Roll of Honor

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Constable

James Alexander Byrd

Kingston Police Department — Kingston, OK

Felonious

End of Watch August 29, 1927

Age 42

The Vigil Panel 53 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Constable Byrd succumbed to injuries received three days earlier when he was assaulted while patrolling the annual county picnic. While standing on a street corner at 7:00 pm a man walked up to him, grabbed his gun out of its holster, and struck him on the head several times with it, causing a fractured skull. The cause of the problem between the two was unclear.

The suspect was arrested, convicted of manslaughter, and sentenced to 15 years. On January 1, 1933, he was granted a years leave of absence and then released when the year ended.

Constable Byrd was survived by his wife and three sons.

Survivors

Constable Byrd was survived by his wife and three sons.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Constable Byrd served with the Kingston Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Kingston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Byrd.

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

Agency

Department Kingston Police Department

Location Kingston, OK

Platform Identity kpd.marshall.ok.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 29, 1927

Age 42

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Assault

Weapon Blunt object

Offender Released in 1933

Constable James Alexander Byrd 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%.

Kingston Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

OK — Statewide

403

of 582 officers

69.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Alexander Byrd's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How James Alexander Byrd Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Released in 1933

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Alexander Byrd is highlighted in Aug.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Alexander Byrd was killed by blunt object.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518