James R. Kelly
Agency patch
Detective

James R. Kelly

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police — Pittsburgh, PA
Cardiac
End of Watch June 3, 1955
Age 49
Tour of Duty 13 yrs 5 mo
The Vigil Panel 91 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective James Kelly suffered a fatal heart attack that was triggered by severe smoke inhalation. As he was completing his shift the previous night an inmate started a fire in his cell by smoking in bed. Detective Kelly was able to rescue the inmate but inhaled a considerable amount of smoke. He refused medical treatment and went home, where he began to feel ill. He went to the hospital the following morning where he suffered the heart attack. Detective Kelly had served with the Pittsburgh Police Department for 14 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
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.
Detective Kelly gave the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police 13 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Kelly.

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

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA
Platform Identity pittpd.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 3, 1955
Tour of Duty 13 yrs 5 mo
Age 49
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac
Weapon Arson

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
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1955, 16 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, the 24th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 49. 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 13.4 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.

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

When

June holds 7.2% of these deaths in the United States; January holds the most, 9.6%. Fridays: 15.8%.

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. The weapon recorded was arson, in 0.2% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police has 101 officers remembered here, James among them.

Across the years

Detective James R. Kelly

Pittsburgh Bureau of Police · End of Watch June 3, 1955

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 21-W

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