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Okla. deputy who died after altercation with detainee ID’d

Deputy Kyle Davis was remembered for his professionalism and good humor

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Corporal Kyle Davis.

Officer Down Memorial Page

Duty Death: Kyle Davis - [Washington County]

End of Service: 25/03/2021

By Daisy Creager
Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise, Okla.

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Okla. —The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is asking for prayers for the family of Deputy Kyle Davis, who died Thursday on the job.

Davis was injured in an altercation with an individual, whose name has not been released, who was aggressive while being booked into the Washington County Detention Center. The deputy was transported to Jane Phillips Medical Center, where resuscitation efforts failed.

Davis joined WCSO as a jailer and dispatcher in 2008. He was promoted to deputy sheriff in 2010, working as a field deputy and, later, transporting inmates between the Detention Center and courthouse. His final role was supervisor of the Detention Center day shift.

He was married with two children.

Friends and family of the 13-year WCSO veteran organized a candlelight vigil in his honor Friday at Copan High School.

“I think the main driver behind (the vigil) is just an opportunity for family, friends, coworkers to gather and support one another, comfort one another as so many of us are navigating through uncharted waters,” said WCSO Undersheriff Jon Copeland. “Having been with the Sheriff’s Office 25 years, not in my tenure have we had an in-the-line-of-duty death.”

Copeland said the suspect in the altercation has been transferred to a detention facility in a different county pending the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation inquiry into the incident. He declined to specify which facility.

The suspect was one of 17 people arrested Thursday morning following a months-long controlled substance investigation conducted by the Bartlesville Police Department and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics & Dangerous Drugs.

The individual was arrested for endeavoring to manufacture a controlled dangerous substance; officials declined to specify the substance. Initially his bond was set at $175,000 — although it might be raised following the altercation with Davis, Copeland said.

Copeland said making people smile and laugh was part of Davis’ personality.

"(He) was professional, he took his job seriously, he was an asset to this office and he could bring a smile to your face. I’m quite certain that if this was not him, he would be one of the first ones up there being that support and leaning post for others, bringing laughs, even during a dark time,” Copeland said.

According to a post of the WCSO Facebook page, a benefit account has been set up through Truity Federal Credit Union for the children of Davis and his wife, Kristin, to help with future expenses. Donations can be sent to Truity or to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Checks should be made payable to Kristin Davis with 3826 in the memo line. Notes can be sent with the donations, and all notes will be passed on to the family, according to the post. Donations can also be sent via Paypal to kdavis.yl@gmail.com (if using PayPal, please indicate “Friends & Family” so no fees are assessed/deducted from the donation).

The office of Clint Johnson, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma, said in a statement:

“On behalf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family of Corporal Kyle Davis, who served his community in law enforcement for 13 years. We stand with you and with the men and women of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in mourning a tremendous loss. Members of law enforcement purposefully risk their lives each and every day they go to work so that we all can live in the safety and security of our homes and communities.”

(c)2021 the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise (Bartlesville, Okla.)

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