Archibald McCollum Buchanan
City Marshal

Archibald McCollum Buchanan

Mount Olive Police Department — Mt. Olive, MS
Felonious
End of Watch December 22, 1906
Age 53
The Vigil Panel 21 ›
Gender Male

Incident

City Marshal Archibald Buchanan was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a father and son for being intoxicated and shooting their weapons around town.

Sometime in the afternoon of December 22, 1906, Marshal Buchanan stopped two individuals about a quarter mile from the Gulf and Ship Island (G&SI) railroad station. As Marshal Buchanan was trying to arrest them for being drunk and disorderly, one of the suspects drew a handgun and shot him three times. Buchanan was able to return fire and struck both of them, resulting in minor injuries.

Both suspects were arrested and charged with murder, although the son is the one who shot Marshal Buchanan. The father was acquitted of the crime. The son's trial was moved to a change of venue, and he was acquitted of the murder.

City Marshal Buchanan was survived by his wife and daughter.

He is buried in the Old McNair Cemetery.

Survivors

City Marshal Buchanan was survived by his wife and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MS-D2256FF6
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Archibald. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
City Marshal Buchanan served with the Mount Olive Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Mt. Olive community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, City Marshal Buchanan.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Mt. Olive, Covington County, MS
Platform Identity mopd.covington.ms.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 22, 1906
Age 53
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

City Marshal Archibald McCollum Buchanan is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In MS, 243 of 350 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.4% of this state's fallen. That is 69.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Mount Olive Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
MS — Statewide
243
of 350 officers
69.4% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Archibald McCollum Buchanan's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Archibald McCollum Buchanan Compares

Age at Death
53
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Archibald McCollum Buchanan is highlighted in Dec.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Archibald McCollum Buchanan was killed by gun; unknown type.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Mount Olive Police Department are honored on badge.nw.