J. V. Cogdill
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

J. V. Cogdill

Felonious
End of Watch October 23, 1937
Age 66
Tour of Duty 22 yrs
The Vigil Panel 73 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Cogdill was killed after a suspect that he had just removed from a dance hall attacked him. After the suspect killed Deputy Cogdill, he stood over the Deputies body deciding what to do next. He then walked back into the dance hall and turned himself in. He was charged with first-degree murder and sentenced to 99 years in prison. In 1952 the suspect was pardoned.

Survivors

Deputy Cogdill had been with the agency for 22 years and was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NM-3AFD292C
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

22 years. You could have gone home.
Deputy Sheriff Cogdill gave the Union County Sheriff's Office 22 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Clayton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Cogdill.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Clayton, Union County, NM
Platform Identity ucso.union.nm.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 23, 1937
Tour of Duty 22 yrs
Age 66
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Person

Deputy Sheriff J. V. Cogdill 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 NM, 123 of 193 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.7% of this state's fallen. That is 63.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Union County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Union County Sheriff's Office
2
of 3 officers
66.7% Felonious
NM — Statewide
123
of 193 officers
63.7% 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. J. V. Cogdill's cause is highlighted.

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

How J. V. Cogdill Compares

Age at Death
66
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
22
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. J. V. Cogdill is highlighted in Oct.

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. J. V. Cogdill was killed by person.

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

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Union County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.