Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff James Kenney was shot and killed as he and other officers were attempting to arrest a jail escapee.
The suspect and two other inmates overpowered two corrections officers and escaped from a local jail. The two other inmates were arrested soon thereafter, however, the suspect escaped to his home. Deputy Kenney, and his canine Copper, went to the house to arrest him and was met with gunfire. Both he and Copper were shot and killed.
The suspect was then arrested by other officers and charged with premeditated first-degree murder and with inflicting death on a police dog.
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- 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 Kenney gave the Clay County Sheriff's Office 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Clay Center community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Kenney.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff James R. Kenney 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 KS, 237 of 335 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.7% of this state's fallen. That is 16.5 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. James R. Kenney's cause is highlighted.
How James R. Kenney Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James R. Kenney is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.