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Constable James Alexander Byrd | Kingston Police Department, Oklahoma
Kingston Police Department, Oklahoma

Constable

James Alexander Byrd

Kingston Police Department, Oklahoma

End of Watch: Monday, August 29, 1927

Biographical Info

Age: 42
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Assault
Date of Incident: August 26, 1927
Weapon Used: Blunt object
Suspect Info: Released in 1933

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.