Roll of Honor

Prev Next

Police Officer

James Fredrick Kilty

Houston Police Department — Houston, TX

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch April 8, 1976

Age 35

Tour of Duty 13 yrs

Badge 1856

The Vigil Panel 117 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 116

Incident

Police Officer James Kilty was shot and killed while attempting to serve a warrant with other members of the narcotics division at a local hotel in the 2900 block of Southwest Freeway. They were serving the warrant to an employee at the hotel when the man approached and opened fire, striking Officer Kilty. Other officers returned fire, killing the suspect. Officer Kilty was transported to Ben Taub Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds a short time later. Officer Kilty was a U.S. Coast Guard veteran and had served with the Houston Police Department for 13 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his parents, sister, and three brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-9A8A362A
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 James. Claim this record.

Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Coast Guard. One record, 2 gates. James is one person.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Police Officer Kilty gave the Houston Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Houston Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Houston, Harris County, TX

Platform Identity hpd.harris.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 8, 1976

Tour of Duty 13 yrs

Age 35

Badge Number 1856

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Military Service

James Fredrick Kilty served in the U.S. Coast Guard before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Police Officer James Fredrick Kilty is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.

In TX, 1,460 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Houston Police Department, 84 of 117 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.8% of this agency's fallen.

Houston Police Department

of 117 officers

71.8% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,460

of 2,421 officers

60.3% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious