Kristian Willhight - Law Enforcement - Oklahoma

Officer Kris Willhight, age 36, died in the line of duty on January 23, 2014, on a highway near Dill City, Oklahoma.

Kris was a member of the Burns Flat Police Department, Oklahoma.

Officer Willhight had answered a call for backup by an officer of the Washita County Sheriff's Office, who was in pursuit of Quentin Johnson, age 27. Quentin Johnson fled when he was served with felony warrants. 

The pursuit lasted for 31 minutes and ended when Quentin Johnson crashed his vehicle and died.

About 3 miles from where Quentin Johnson crashed, two patrol cars involved in the pursuit collided. One patrol car was driven by Undersheriff Brian Beck and the other by Police Officer Kristian Willhight. Both law enforcement officers were killed.

Kris was born in Mt. Vernon, Washington. His family moved to Mangum, Oklahoma. He attended high school there and graduated in 1996. He then graduated from Western Oklahoma State College with an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice. 

Kris worked for the Oklahoma State Reformatory in Granite, Oklahoma, before beginning his career in law enforcement working for the Mangum and the Granite Police Departments. In 2010 he moved to Burns Flat, Oklahoma and began working for the Burns Flat Police Department. 

He was an active member and was passionate about his work with MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving).

The Washita County Sheriff's Office and the Burn's Flat Police Department are in mourning over the loss of their brothers.

Friends describe Kris as a dedicated officer, a good man and a great father. He had a

Michael, Archangel, Patron Saint
of the Police, pray for Kris

sense of humor, was fun and had a smile on his face. He was thoughtful of others and was there to listen to them and was not judgmental.

He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Kris is survived by many loving comrades, friends and family members including his mother, Dian Jackson; his father, Jim Willhight; his sisters - Bethanne, Jamie and Leeah; his brothers, Byron and Andrew; and his daughter, Evelyn Willhight.

Thank you for your service to the public, Kris.

Pray for all who die in the line of duty.

Pray for all who die by misadventure. They are with us one moment and gone the next. Amen.

Pray that Kris is in heaven. Pray that he is at peace and is with God. Amen.