Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police William Kirby suffered a fatal heart attack while struggling with a man he had just arrested for being drunk in public.
The man started resisting as he and a sheriff's deputy took the man into the jail. The two struggled with the prisoner up three flights of stairs until getting him into a jail cell. Chief Kirby collapsed moments later.
The subject was charged with first-degree manslaughter in connection with Chief Kirby's death.
Chief Kirby was survived by his wife and two daughters.
Survivors
Chief Kirby was survived by his wife and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OK-F457E01B- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew William. Claim this record.
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief of Police Kirby served with the Jay Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Jay community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Kirby.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police William Kirby 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 OK, 21 of 582 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 3.6% of this state's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Cardiac compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Kirby's cause is highlighted.
How William Kirby Compares
When Cardiac Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Cardiac deaths across the full memorial record. William Kirby is highlighted in Nov.