J. Fletcher Bateman

South Carolina State Constable — Columbia, SC

Felonious

End of Watch July 18, 1919

Age 48

The Vigil Panel 37 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Constable Bateman succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous day when he and the chief of the Camden Police Department were ambushed while raiding a still in the Beaver Dam section of Kershaw County about seven miles east of Camden.

The two officers were approaching the still and were walking across a fallen tree, in order to cross a stream. As they approached the opposite side of the stream, they were ambushed by two moonshiners.

Constable Bateman was struck once in the chest. Although mortally wounded, he was able to return fire along with the police chief and mortally wounded his killer. The other suspect escaped but was captured a short time later along with the killer's 17-year-old son. Both were charged with murder. Constable Bateman was taken to a local hospital and then transported by train to a hospital in Columbia, where he died during surgery the following day.

Constable Bateman had served as a state constable for many years and had previously served as a deputy sheriff.

Thank you for your service and please know that no passage of time will ever erase your sacrifice. Rest in peace always.

Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo Delaware State Police (Retired) July 18th, 2020

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-SC-753C9512
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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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
State Constable Bateman served with the South Carolina State Constable.
Thank you for your service to the Columbia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, State Constable Bateman.

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

Agency

Department South Carolina State Constable

Location Columbia, SC

Platform Identity scscco.richland.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 18, 1919

Age 48

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and killed

State Constable J. Fletcher Bateman 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 SC, 271 of 438 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.9% of this state's fallen. That is 7.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At South Carolina State Constable, 5 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.

South Carolina State Constable

of 6 officers

83.3% Felonious

SC — Statewide

271

of 438 officers

61.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious