Roll of Honor

Prev Next

Town Marshal

James J. Billingsley

Provencal Police Department — Provencal, LA

Felonious

End of Watch November 17, 1893

The Vigil Panel 12 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Town Marshal James Billingsley was shot and killed from ambush by a man he had previously chastised for acting disorderly.

The man had threatened Marshal Billingsley after the incident but the marshal disregarded the threats. Several days later Marshal Billingsley was walking to a market on the east side of the railroad tracks. As he walked past a store where the man worked someone opened fire on him from inside with a shotgun, striking him in the leg. Marshal Billingsley began to return fire as he ran toward the store but ran out of ammunition. As he called to a citizen to give him another pistol one of the store's owners opened fire on him with a Winchester rifle, fatally wounding him.

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." Matthew 5:9

Chris Di Gerolamo Federal Air Marshal Service February 8th, 2022

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-LA-2206EC7F
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew James. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

133 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Town Marshal Billingsley served with the Provencal Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Provencal community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Provencal Police Department

Location Provencal, LA

Platform Identity ppd.natchitoches.la.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 17, 1893

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle; Winchester

Town Marshal James J. Billingsley 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 LA, 364 of 595 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.2% of this state's fallen. That is 7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Provencal Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

LA — Statewide

364

of 595 officers

61.2% 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. James J. Billingsley'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 James J. Billingsley Compares

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James J. Billingsley is highlighted in Nov.

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. James J. Billingsley was killed by rifle; winchester.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518