Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Pennsylvania
End of Watch: Friday, June 3, 1955
Age: 49
Tour of Duty: 13 years, 5 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Heart attack
Date of Incident: June 2, 1955
Weapon Used: Arson
Suspect Info: Not available
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. He was survived by his wife and three children.