Holly MatkinBartlesville, OK – Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) Corporal Kyle Davis died in the line of duty on March 25 after an inmate punched him in the chest and ruptured his aorta.
The incident occurred inside the Washington County Detention Center at approximately 1:30 p.m. on March 25 as the 38-year-old corporal was helping to book in one of 17 suspects who had been arrested in connection with a lengthy, multi-agency drug investigation case, the Examiner-Enterprise reported.
During the intake process, one of the suspects started fighting with the officers and punched Cpl. Davis in the chest, rupturing his aorta, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.
The corporal was rushed to Jane Phillips Medical Center, where he died about one hour later, KTUL reported.
The unnamed suspect has been transferred to another facility and charges against him are pending, according to police.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) is handling the ongoing investigation into the attack, the Examiner-Enterprise reported.
“This is a day that will go down in history in Washington County as one of our darkest days,” Washington County Sheriff Scott Owen said of the fatal attack, according to KTUL.
Cpl. Davis joined the WCSO as a dispatcher and detention officer in 2008, the Examiner-Enterprise reported.
He was promoted to the rank of deputy sheriff two years later, and was initially assigned to patrol duties.
Cpl. Davis later began working as a transport deputy, and was supervisor of the detention facility’s day shift at the time of his murder, the Examiner-Enterprise reported.
WCSO Undersheriff Jon Copeland said Cpl. Davis was always making others laugh and smile.
“(He) was professional, he took his job seriously, he was an asset to this office and he could bring a smile to your face,” Undersheriff Copeland told the Examiner-Enterprise. “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.”
“He could light up a room,” WCSO Maintenance Supervisor David Kerr told KTUL. “No matter how mad you were or what kind of bad day you were having, he would force you to smile. You had no choice but to laugh with him.”
WCSO Lieutenant Jeff Prentice said Cpl. Davis was “uplifting” and “had a lot of spirit.”
“He was a really good guy to be around,” Lt. Prentice told KTUL.
Cpl. Davis leaves behind his wife of 10 years, Kristin, and his two children, Seth and Pearl, according to his obituary.
He is also survived by his parents, sister, nephew, grandmothers, and many friends, family members, and “his enormous family of ‘Brothers and Sisters in Blue,’” the tribute read.
Cpl. Davis will be laid to rest on April 2.
RIP. Corporal Kyle Davis was murdered when he was assaulted by a prisoner during the booking process. #rip #hero #endofwatch #CorporalKyleDavis #WashingtonCountySheriffsOffice #lawenforcement #thinblueline #bluelivesmatter #backtheblue #becarefuloutthere pic.twitter.com/bYiwT0ELj3
— Protecting the Blue (@protectingblue) March 28, 2021
#OfficerDown #Oklahoma | On March 25, 2021, Corporal Kyle Davis of the Washington County Sheriff's Office, died after being assaulted inside of the Washington County Correctional Facility while booking a prisoner.
More at https://t.co/OZ8NnY0i2m pic.twitter.com/czrMcehbMf
— 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐖𝐞𝐢𝐬𝐬 (@steveODMP) March 28, 2021
My Condolences To The Family Of #FallenHero Corporal #KyleJeffreyDavis #EOW 25March21 #NeverForgotten #BlueLivesMatter #AllLivesMatter #AllGaveSomeAndSomeGaveAll pic.twitter.com/yUx9TzgXE7
— Chicago's Finest👮🏻 (@ChicagoPD19) March 27, 2021
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Washington County Sheriff’s Office Corporal Kyle Davis, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.
Sandy Malone
