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Incident
Warrants Officer Toby Keiser died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.
Officer Keiser was a veteran of both the U.S. Navy and Army National Guard. He had served with the Knox County Sheriff's Office for 28 years. He had retired and rejoined the force as a Warrants Officer.
COVID-19 and Law Enforcement
Warrants Officer Toby Jay Keiser died on January 18, 2021 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 54.
He is one of 885 officers honored here.
Beginning in early 2020, law enforcement officers across the country contracted COVID-19 in the course of their duties. While much of the nation sheltered at home, they kept answering calls, making arrests, transporting prisoners, and working face to face with the public. There was no distance to be had from the job.
Corrections officers were hit hardest. Confined facilities and large populations meant constant, close, unavoidable exposure.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtp2kbvc9hsrnmd3d1ap6- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Toby. Claim this record.
Also honored at requiem.nw, salute.nw — U.S. Army, salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 4 gates. Toby is one person.
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Tributes
The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Warrants Officer Keiser gave the Knox County Sheriff's Office 28 years.
Thank you for your service to the Knoxville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Warrants Officer Keiser.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Toby Jay Keiser served in the U.S. Navy (1986â1989) before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Illness
Knox County Sheriff's Department has lost 11 officers; 1 of them lost to illness.
Toby is one of 43 officers lost to illness in TN, 5.6% of the 769 remembered there.
Toby is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Toby is one of 2,979 officers lost to illness worldwide, 8.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2021, 19 officers in TN were lost to illness, more than in any other year.
In 2021, 564 officers in the United States were lost to illness, more than in any other year.
In 2021, 566 officers worldwide were lost to illness, more than in any other year.
Who
Toby was 54. Of the 43 lost to illness in TN whose age is recorded, half were between 38 and 54.5; the middle age was 45. Toby had served 28 years; the middle length of service was 16 years.
Toby was 54. Of the 1,996 lost to illness in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 42 and 58; the middle age was 51. Toby had served 28 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
Toby was 54. Of the 2,916 lost to illness worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 39 and 56; the middle age was 49. Toby had served 28 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
When
January holds 7% of these deaths in TN; September holds the most, 30.2%. Mondays: 20.9%.
January holds 9.5% of these deaths in the United States; October holds the most, 14.9%. Mondays: 14.2%.
January holds 9.9% of these deaths worldwide; October holds the most, 12.6%. Mondays: 14.6%.
How
Illness deaths account for 9.1% of all 11 deaths at Knox County Sheriff's Department, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 5.6% of all 769 deaths in TN, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 7.4% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 8.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 3rd most common cause.
His people
Knox County Sheriff's Department has 11 officers remembered here, Toby among them.
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Doctor A. Shipe May 21, 1888
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William Walker
Jul 21, 1906
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George S. Williams Jun 3, 1927
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Ralph W. King
Sep 12, 1933
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Harley Beecher Nelson Jul 6, 1947
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James Kenneth Kennedy
Mar 27, 1984
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Steve Keith McCulley
Feb 16, 1999
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Angela K. Payne
Feb 26, 2000
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L. Keith Lyon
May 9, 2006
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Toby Jay Keiser
Jan 18, 2021
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Tucker Blakely
Oct 2, 2023
Where
Military Service
Toby Jay Keiser served in the U.S. Navy (1986–1989) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Toby Jay Keiser’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 61-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
10 officers from Knox County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
