James A. Hayes
Agency patch
Trooper

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

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

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 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

Type Highway Patrol
Location Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, 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

The Sacrifice · Cardiac

James is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1988, 19 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, the 12th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 54. Of the 1,249 lost to cardiac events in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 55; the middle age was 48. James had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

July holds 7.2% of these deaths in the United States; January holds the most, 9.6%. Sundays: 13.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Cardiac deaths account for 4.7% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 4th most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Oklahoma Highway Patrol has 39 officers remembered here, James among them.

VI

Where

Trooper James A. Hayes

Oklahoma Highway Patrol · End of Watch July 10, 1988

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 34-W

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