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Special Deputy Sheriff

Frank James

Martin County Sheriff's Office — Inez, KY

Felonious

End of Watch July 7, 1925

Age 23

Tour of Duty

The Vigil Panel 49 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Special Deputy Frank James was shot and killed as he assisted the Martin County sheriff and a posse search for a man wanted for shooting five people the previous day.

The sheriff deputized his brother, son, and Frank James to assist with the search and arrest of the man. When the posse encountered the subject the man opened fire, killing Special Deputy James, before being taken into custody. He was convicted of Deputy James' murder and sentenced to life in prison.

Special Deputy James was survived by his father.

Survivors

Special Deputy James was survived by his father.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-KY-68976046
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Deputy Sheriff James served with the Martin County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Inez community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Deputy Sheriff James.

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

Agency

Department Martin County Sheriff's Office

Location Inez, KY

Platform Identity mcso.martin.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 7, 1925

Tour of Duty

Age 23

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Sentenced to life

Special Deputy Sheriff Frank James 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 KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 22.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Martin County Sheriff's Office

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

KY — Statewide

755

of 983 officers

76.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Frank James's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Frank James Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to life

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Frank James is highlighted in Jul.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Frank James was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518