James R. Kelly

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police — Pittsburgh, PA

Cardiac

End of Watch June 3, 1955

Age 49

Tour of Duty 13 yrs 5 mo

The Vigil Panel 91 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 100

Incident

Detective James Kelly suffered a fatal heart attack that was triggered by severe smoke inhalation. As he was completing his shift the previous night an inmate started a fire in his cell by smoking in bed. Detective Kelly was able to rescue the inmate but inhaled a considerable amount of smoke. He refused medical treatment and went home, where he began to feel ill. He went to the hospital the following morning where he suffered the heart attack. Detective Kelly had served with the Pittsburgh Police Department for 14 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-D9A580F6
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Kelly gave the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police 13 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Kelly.

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

Agency

Department Pittsburgh Bureau of Police

Location Pittsburgh, PA

Platform Identity pittpd.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 3, 1955

Tour of Duty 13 yrs 5 mo

Age 49

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

Weapon Arson

Offender Not available

Detective James R. Kelly is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In PA, 118 of 1,261 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 9.4% of this state's fallen. That is 5.4 percentage points above the national rate of 4%.

At Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, 5 of 101 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 5% of this agency's fallen.

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police

of 101 officers

5% Cardiac

PA — Statewide

118

of 1,261 officers

9.4% Cardiac

Nationwide

1,306

of 32,508 officers

4% Cardiac