James A. Hayes

Oklahoma Highway Patrol — Oklahoma City, OK

Cardiac

End of Watch July 10, 1988

Age 54

Tour of Duty 18 yrs

The Vigil Panel 133 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 38

Incident

Trooper James Hayes suffered a fatal heart attack after arresting a drunk driver on Admiral and 200th East Avenue in Tulsa at 11 PM.

The subject became combative, and backup was called. Trooper Hayes was able to take control of the subject and placed him in the back of the patrol vehicle. When Trooper Hayes returned to the front seat, he suffered a heart attack. Despite life-saving measures by a Rogers County deputy, Trooper Hayes was pronounced dead at Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa.

Trooper Hayes had served with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol for 18 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and three daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OK-25331A25
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.
Trooper Hayes gave the Oklahoma Highway Patrol 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Oklahoma. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Hayes.

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

Agency

Department Oklahoma Highway Patrol

Location Oklahoma City, OK

Platform Identity ohp.ok.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 10, 1988

Tour of Duty 18 yrs

Age 54

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

Cause Detail Heart attack

Trooper James A. Hayes 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.

At Oklahoma Highway Patrol, 2 of 39 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 5.1% of this agency's fallen.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol

of 39 officers

5.1% Cardiac

OK — Statewide

of 582 officers

3.6% Cardiac

Nationwide

1,306

of 32,508 officers

4% Cardiac