J. R. Temple
Agency patch
Jailer

J. R. Temple

Felonious
End of Watch April 6, 1910
The Vigil Panel 24 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Jailer Bob Temple was shot and killed by a prisoner who succeeded in securing another jailer's pistol during a scuffle at the Lauderdale County Jail. Other officers shot and mortally wounded the prisoner.

As the prisoner lay dying, a maddened crowd of nearly 2000 people took him from the officers and hanged him from a nearby telephone pole.

Jailer Temple was the former sheriff of Lauderdale County.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MS-DCEA0967
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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Jailer Temple served with the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Meridian community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Jailer Temple.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Meridian, Lauderdale County, MS
Platform Identity lcso.lauderdale.ms.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 6, 1910
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun

Jailer J. R. Temple 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%.

At Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office
1
of 2 officers
50% 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. J. R. Temple's cause is highlighted.

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

How J. R. Temple Compares

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. J. R. Temple is highlighted in Apr.

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. R. Temple was killed by officer's handgun.

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

1 officer from Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.