Fairmont Police Department, West Virginia
End of Watch: Friday, August 8, 1958
Age: 32
Tour of Duty: 10 years
Badge Number: 18
Cause of Death: Heart attack
Date of Incident: August 8, 1958
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Patrolman Robert Kirk suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after responding to the scene of an automobile accident in which a car had ruptured a major natural gas utility line.
He and other officers evacuated several nearby buildings and homes and then assisted at the scene of the accident. He began to suffer chest and back pains and was transported to a local hospital. Doctors checked his heart and lungs and then released him, but he collapsed as he walked out of the hospital.
Patrolman Kirk had served with the agency for 10 years. He was survived by his wife and three children.