Suzanne Lee Kays

Dallas County Sheriff's Department — Dallas, TX

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch January 4, 1989

Age 33

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 134 ›

Gender Female

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 19

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Suzanne Kays was shot and killed with her own weapon after being attacked by a homeless man who had just been released from jail. Deputy Kays was escorting the man from the Lew Sterrett Justice Center when he suddenly turned and punched her, knocking her to the ground. He continued to strike her on the ground and took her gun while they struggled. He then shot and killed her before running toward the booking area, where he was confronted by several Dallas Police officers who ordered him to drop the gun. When he refused, he was shot in the legs and groin by an officer with a shotgun. The subject was found incompetent to stand trial and sent to a Texas mental institution. He was sentenced to two life terms. He died in prison. Deputy Kays was a United States Army veteran and had graduated from her academy class only one week before the incident and was on her second shift. She had been in law enforcement for four years. The Suzanne L. Kays Detention Facility was named in her honor.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-BD2EC6E1
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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Suzanne is one person.

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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.
Deputy Sheriff Kays gave the Dallas County Sheriff's Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Dallas community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, sister.

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

Agency

Department Dallas County Sheriff's Department

Type Sheriff's Office

Location Dallas, Dallas County, TX

Platform Identity dcso.dallas.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 4, 1989

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 33

Gender Female

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Military Service

Suzanne Lee Kays served in the U.S. Army (1975â1979) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Deputy Sheriff Suzanne Lee Kays 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 Dallas County Sheriff's Department, 14 of 20 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70% of this agency's fallen.

Dallas County Sheriff's Department

of 20 officers

70% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,460

of 2,421 officers

60.3% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious