Roll of Honor

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Deputy Sheriff

James J. Boney

Brule County Sheriff's Department — Chamberlain, SD

Felonious

End of Watch September 6, 1926

The Vigil Panel 51 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Deputy Boney was shot and killed while searching for a robbery suspect. The suspect had robbed and person who had offered him a ride as the suspect kidnapped. Another passerby found the victim, who was tied up, and freed him before calling the sheriff's department. Deputy Boney located the victim's car and as he searched for the suspect nearby he was shot several times and killed. A posse was formed and located the suspect near the Missouri River. The man was killed in a shootout with the posse.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-SD-8F6DFD12
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.
Deputy Sheriff Boney served with the Brule County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chamberlain community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Boney.

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

Agency

Department Brule County Sheriff's Department

Location Chamberlain, SD

Platform Identity bcso.brule.sd.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 6, 1926

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and killed

Deputy Sheriff James J. Boney 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 SD, 36 of 62 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.1% of this state's fallen. That is 3.9 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

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

Brule County Sheriff's Department

of 2 officers

50% Felonious

SD — Statewide

of 62 officers

58.1% 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. Boney'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. Boney Compares

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

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

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. Boney 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

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Brule County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.