Roll of Honor
William Conway Keirsey
Incident
Deputy William Keirsey was shot and killed while he and the undersheriff were questioning two brothers about a stolen car at their home. Several days later one of the suspects was shot and killed by police in Wichita, Kansas. The other suspect was apprehended in Hereford, Texas. He was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death. His sentence was later commuted to life. On September 3, 1934, he died in prison at the age of 23 of complications from a stroke. Deputy Keirsey's uncle, police officer Ben Collins, of the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs, was shot and killed in the line of duty on August 1, 1906. His brother, Patrolman Jim Keirsey, was also shot and killed in the line of duty the previous year while serving with the Seminole Police Department. Deputy Keirsey, A WWI veteran, had been employed with the Carter County Sheriff's Office for ten years.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-OK-422D2DCB- Stewardship
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- 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 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 Keirsey gave the Carter County Sheriff's Office 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Ardmore 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
William Conway Keirsey served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Deputy Sheriff William Conway Keirsey is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In OK, 403 of 582 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.2% of this state's fallen. That is 15 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Conway Keirsey's cause is highlighted.
How William Conway Keirsey Compares
Offender Outcome
Died in prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Conway Keirsey is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Conway Keirsey was killed by gun; unknown type.