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Incident
Police Officer James Slay succumbed to injuries sustained two weeks earlier when he was struck by his own patrol car while writing a parking citation. The transmission on his patrol car disengaged from park, pinning him in between the patrol car and another vehicle. The injury caused Officer Slay to suffer a fatal blood clot. Officer Slay had served with the Tulsa Police Department for seven years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
NW-KNEF-QSF4-Kearlier record number BO-US-OK-5394BE82- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Slay gave the Tulsa Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tulsa community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Slay.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Tulsa Police Department has lost 42 officers; 11 of them lost to accidents.
James is one of 135 officers lost to accidents in OK, 23.2% of the 582 remembered there.
James is one of 8,274 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,543 remembered there.
James is one of 10,099 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,910 remembered here.
33,910 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1986, 1 officer at Tulsa Police Department was lost to accidents, the 2nd heaviest of 10 years on record. The heaviest was 1982, with 2.
In 1986, 1 officer in OK was lost to accidents, the 39th heaviest of 78 years on record. The heaviest was 1980, with 4.
In 1986, 82 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 23rd heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1986, 93 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 31st heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
James was 28. Of the 4 lost to accidents at Tulsa Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 27.3 and 35.8; the middle age was 31.5. James had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
James was 28. Of the 118 lost to accidents in OK whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 48.8; the middle age was 38. James had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
James was 28. Of the 7,715 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. James had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
James was 28. Of the 9,448 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. James had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
November holds 18.2% of these deaths at Tulsa Police Department; March holds the most, 36.4%. Mondays: 18.2%.
November holds 6.7% of these deaths in OK; March holds the most, 12.6%. Mondays: 17.8%.
November holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13.4%.
November holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Mondays: 13.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 26.2% of all 42 deaths at Tulsa Police Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 23.2% of all 582 deaths in OK, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,543 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,910 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Tulsa Police Department has 42 officers remembered here, James among them.
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John Herrod Nov 9, 1917
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Glenn Allison
Feb 7, 1918
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W. C. Meacham
Jun 8, 1920
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Ed Yoakum Oct 27, 1920
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Harry H. Aurandt
Dec 20, 1921
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Robert Donnelly Feb 26, 1922
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Robert Jackson
Oct 31, 1927
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William Sydney Brooks
Dec 31, 1930
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James Wooley
Jan 23, 1931
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Henry C. Morrison Apr 23, 1933
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Lawrence B. Mitchell
Jul 22, 1934
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Walter N. Clark
Dec 10, 1936
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Edward W. Von Holten
Mar 24, 1937
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L. R. Rogers
Mar 16, 1941
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Walter C. Busch, Sr.
Oct 11, 1944
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Gerald M. St. Clair
Sep 2, 1946
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Sylvester Cormack
Sep 12, 1946
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Ben Johnston
Jan 3, 1947
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Ray Cowan
Feb 4, 1947
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Lawrence Inman
Mar 13, 1947
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Claude Silas Lynch
Nov 28, 1948
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James S. Peters
Apr 14, 1949
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Cornelius W. White
May 18, 1951
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Wallace Eugene Casey
May 12, 1957
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Nelson F. Williams
Jun 2, 1958
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Alan Yerton
Dec 24, 1959
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Thomas E. Milstead Nov 30, 1960
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Leroy E. Cowles
Sep 8, 1961
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Hubert Gerald Greer
Apr 27, 1962
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George Lee Brady
Apr 13, 1963
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Jerome Thurman Spybuck
Apr 3, 1971
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Glenn Truman Wortham
Jul 15, 1973
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Carl V. Kime, Jr.
Nov 5, 1979
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Don L. Byerley
Dec 15, 1980
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Fabrienne Margot Van Arsdell
Jul 25, 1981
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Kelley L. Smythe
Mar 26, 1982
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Chance Frederick Whiteman, III
Mar 26, 1982
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James Albert Slay
Nov 10, 1986
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Constantine George Spanos
Apr 23, 1993
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Dick Vernon Hobson, Jr.
Jun 11, 1996
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Craig Vincent Johnson
Jun 30, 2020
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Jerad Matthew Lindsey
Oct 28, 2020
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 53-W
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