Troy Key

Clay County Sheriff's Dept. — Piggott, AR

Felonious

End of Watch April 15, 1972

Age 45

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 110 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Troy Key, Deputy Sheriff Glendal Archer, and Sheriff Douglas Batey were shot and killed in McDougal as they attempted to serve a warrant for assault with intent to kill. As they exited their vehicles in the suspect's driveway, the man opened fire with a 12-gauge shotgun. Sheriff Batey and Deputy Archer were killed instantly. Deputy Key succumbed to his wounds 10 days later. A fourth responding officer found the suspect sitting on the tailgate of his truck and arrested him without incident. He was convicted of three counts of first degree murder and sentenced to life. He died in prison March 12th, 1984. Deputy Key had served with the Clay County Sheriff's Department for four years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AR-DCFAAF48
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.
Deputy Sheriff Key gave the Clay County Sheriff's Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Piggott community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Key.

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

Agency

Department Clay County Sheriff's Dept.

Location Piggott, AR

Platform Identity ccso.clay.ar.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 15, 1972

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 45

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun; 12 gauge

Offender Died in prison

Deputy Sheriff Troy Key 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 AR, 249 of 372 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.9% of this state's fallen. That is 12.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Clay County Sheriff's Dept., 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.

Clay County Sheriff's Dept.

of 5 officers

80% Felonious

AR — Statewide

249

of 372 officers

66.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious