Law Enforcement Talk: True Crime and Trauma Stories

Episode: Police Husband was Killed in a Helicopter Crash

Host: John "Jay" Wiley
Guest: Kira Knox
Date: December 28, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

This powerful episode centers around Kira Knox, widow of Houston Police Department Officer Jason Knox, who was tragically killed in the line of duty during a police helicopter crash. The conversation delves deeply into her lived experience of trauma, loss, and recovery—from the night of the incident, through the aftermath, funeral, and her ongoing journey toward healing. Beyond recounting her loss, Kira discusses her work supporting other law enforcement families and the creation of a practical resource, "The Guide," for families navigating sudden tragedy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Night of the Crash and Notification (02:33—08:44)

• Incident Overview: On May 2, 2020, Jason Knox, serving as Tactical Flight Officer, responded to a call searching for a body (which turned out to be a false alarm). During the operation, the HPD helicopter suffered mechanical failure and crashed into an empty apartment leasing office.

• Immediate Aftermath: Emergency teams quickly located the crash site. Jason was extracted in about 10 minutes, alive and conscious, but succumbed to his injuries during surgery.

• Notification Experience: Kira describes the surreal moment of being contacted at 3:00am by her husband's partner and best friend:

  “I open the door and fall to my knees, and I’m like, what happened? … All they knew was the helicopter had crashed. Both of them were being life flighted to the hospital, and they were both alive.” (05:35)

• False Sense of Security: Jason had previously survived a helicopter accident and a patrol car rollover, giving a false sense that “lightning can’t strike twice” (08:06).

Processing the Loss and Surviving the Aftermath (11:15—20:13)

• Incomprehension and Disbelief: Upon being told Jason didn’t survive, Kira initially refused to believe it, highlighting the impossibility of processing such finality:

  "Even when they told me that he didn’t make it … I was like, no, you have to be confused, like, this can’t be him." (14:27)

• The Visual of Loss: The enduring and traumatic image of seeing Jason with the flag draped over him at the hospital:

  “…Seeing your husband on a hospital bed with a flag draped over him—just. That will be an image burned into my head forever.” (15:38)

The Law Enforcement Family & Grief Support (17:20—20:13)

• How to Support the Bereaved: Both Kira and John reflect on the helplessness people feel after a line of duty death.

  “People just really, truly do not know what to say.” (17:20 – Kira)
  “Here’s what Kim said to me. That’s her name. She said, listen, you can’t make it worse. The worst has already happened. So talk to me about … Don’t abandon me.” (18:26 – John)

• Advice to Friends and Colleagues: Kira urges people not to walk on eggshells or exclude her from normal life:

  “The worst thing you can do is treat me differently because of my circumstance. Just keep being who you are.” (18:44)

Parenting Through Tragedy (34:01–35:44)

• Telling Her Kids: Kira describes the agony of having to tell their children (ages 5 and 3) what happened to their father:

  “Once they woke up, I took them one by one outside and had to explain to them on their level that their dad wasn’t coming home... My son obviously took it harder because he's older and had a lot of questions.” (34:01)

The Police Funeral and Community Response (27:41–30:59)

• Overwhelmed by Scale and Attention: Kira, a dispatcher herself, reflects on the experience of enduring a massive line-of-duty funeral, including support but also the exhaustion of constant attention:

  “A lot of that week is kind of a fog. I don't even remember a lot of that.” (29:52)

Life Stolen, Moving Forward, & The Need for Practical Support (25:28–26:36, 36:37–41:00)

• Sense of a Stolen Future: Kira grieves not just her husband but the life and future they’d built since high school:

  "My whole life kind of ripped away from me because now I’m here trying to do this by myself. … Deep down, I know that I’m going to have to find love again and that’s the scariest thing.” (25:28)

• True Friends Revealed:

  “You really do find out who your true friends are. … The groups of people that I have, the tribe, the village—because it literally takes a freaking village. I could not be more blessed on that.” (36:37)

• Practical Challenges and the Birth of “The Guide”: Kira and others created a comprehensive resource for surviving families based on her experiences, aiming to ease logistical burdens (like paying bills, handling paperwork, sharing information):

  “There’s so many people that want to come into your house, and this is a safe place that you can fill out everything that’s pertinent in regards to you and your spouse and your family…” (38:30)

• Most Important Advice:

  “Get a will. Because we unfortunately did not have one and we had to go through probate. … Bills have to get paid. Your children … have to go on. … And a spouse is not in any kind of state of mind to be doing those things.” (39:47)

Carrying Forward—Helping Others (41:00–43:09)

• Empowering Others Through Blue Bow Foundation:

  “So I’m the director of social media for the Blue Bow. … When my husband died they came in and did amazing food donations, just everything. They were absolutely amazing.” (42:34)

• Contacting Kira and Getting “The Guide”:

  “If you go to our website, bluebo.org and go under shop, you can get … a PDF version. … Or for a $25 donation, you will get a hard copy and a binder with tabs and extra pockets.” (41:22)
  “On Facebook you can message us or email, but yeah.” (43:09)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Surviving Trauma:

  “No, you’re not okay. Like, even two years later, I'm still not okay. I'm just still standing.” (17:20 – Kira Knox)

• On Lingering Images:

  “Seeing your husband on a hospital bed with a flag draped over him—just. That will be an image burned into my head forever.” (15:38)

• On Grief and Moving On:

  "I was 32 when it happened. I never, never thought I would become a 32-year-old widow." (27:32)

• On Community Support:

  “You really do find out who your true friends are. … It literally takes a freaking village.” (36:37)

• On the Need for Preparation:

  “Get a will. … Bills have to get paid. … And a spouse is not in any kind of state of mind to be doing those things.” (39:47)

• On Helping Others:

  “If you have one person that can just take over that guide and, you know, divvy out tasks or whatever for everybody…” (38:30)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:33–08:44] – Kira’s detailed account of the crash, notification, and the initial hours of uncertainty
• [14:27–15:38] – Processing Jason’s death at the hospital, revelation, and the enduring trauma
• [17:20–19:16] – Coping with grief, what friends can do, and how to be supportive
• [25:28–27:41] – The feeling of a stolen future; grappling with widowhood at 32
• [27:41–30:59] – The scale and surreal nature of the police funeral
• [34:01–35:44] – Breaking the news to her children
• [36:37–38:30] – Community support, true friendship, and logistical challenges
• [39:47–41:00] – Most important advice for law enforcement families
• [41:22–43:09] – How to obtain "The Guide," Kira’s ongoing advocacy, and support network

Resources & Further Support

• Blue Bow Foundation & The Guide:

  • Website: bluebo.org
  • Under “Shop” section for The Guide (PDF and hard copy options)
  • Blue Bow Foundation (on Facebook)

• Contact Kira Knox:

  • Via Blue Bow social media or email through website

“You can’t make it worse. The worst has already happened. … Just don’t be a stranger and don’t abandon me.” (18:26 – Shared lesson from John and Kira)