Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Dave Jones was shot and killed during a routine traffic stop south of Escalante.
The deputy had pulled over a pickup truck at approximately 3:30 p.m. because he suspected the driver was intoxicated. While the passenger of the truck observed, the driver was given a field sobriety test and failed. Deputy Jones handcuffed the suspect and placed him in the back seat of his patrol car. The deputy then called for a tow truck to pick up the suspect's vehicle.
The passenger, who had been riding in the truck, grabbed a rifle from inside the truck and pointed it at Deputy Jones. Deputy Jones drew his firearm and ordered the suspect to drop the weapon. The suspect opened fire, and one round struck Deputy Jones in the chest. The round penetrated Deputy Jones' bullet-resistant vest. Deputy Jones was able to return fire, striking the suspect once.
The suspect then un-cuffed his friend, and both escaped the scene. When the tow truck arrived, the driver found Deputy Jones wounded and called for help, but Deputy Jones died before the ambulance arrived.
The two suspects were apprehended within a few hours. One of the suspects had sustained gunshot wounds to the arm and chest from the shootout with Deputy Jones. Both suspects were charged with capital murder. Investigation revealed that the suspect's weapon was loaded with ammunition designed to penetrate bulletproof materials. One of the men charged with the capital murder of Deputy Jones pled guilty in exchange for a sentence of life without possibility of parole. One suspect remains incarcerated; the other died in prison.
Deputy Jones had served with the Garfield County Sheriff's Office for 16 months.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-UT-2A765E8C- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Deputy Sheriff Jones gave the Garfield County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Panguitch community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Jones.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff David Charles Jones is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In UT, 84 of 138 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.9% of this state's fallen. That is 6.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. David Charles Jones's cause is highlighted.
How David Charles Jones Compares
Offender Outcome
Life in prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. David Charles Jones is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. David Charles Jones was killed by rifle.