James Clayton "Clay" Collier

Muskogee County Sheriff's Office — Muskogee, OK

Felonious

End of Watch February 4, 1931

Age 49

The Vigil Panel 61 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 6

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Clay Collier succumbed to a gunshot wound while attempting to arrest a subject who had broken into a blacksmith shop at 6:30 pm in Oktaha.

Deputy Collier caught a man crouching in the shop. While searching the man, Deputy Collier told him to leave the area. The subject had previously been caught robbing a home in the area and was told that if he left, he would not be arrested. Instead, the man spun around, shot Deputy Collier in the neck, and fled.

Deputy Collier was transported to the city hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds the next day.

The subject was arrested a few weeks later and confessed to the shooting. Deputy Collier's wife, based on the wishes of her husband, pleaded with the court to give him life in prison rather than the death penalty.

Deputy Collier was survived by his wife, three sons, and three daughters.

Survivors

Deputy Collier was survived by his wife, three sons, and three daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OK-22AB022D
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Collier served with the Muskogee County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Muskogee community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Collier.

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

Agency

Department Muskogee County Sheriff's Office

Type Sheriff's Office

Location Muskogee, Muskogee County, OK

Platform Identity mcso.muskogee.ok.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 4, 1931

Age 49

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Not available

Deputy Sheriff James Clayton "Clay" Collier is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 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 69.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Muskogee County Sheriff's Office, 7 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Muskogee County Sheriff's Office

of 7 officers

100% Felonious

OK — Statewide

403

of 582 officers

69.2% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,756 officers

0% Felonious