James William Cantrell

Forsyth County Sheriff's Office — Cumming, GA

Felonious

End of Watch January 10, 1972

Age 37

The Vigil Panel 109 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Chief Deputy James Cantrell and Special Deputy Sheriff Larry Mulkey were shot and killed during a traffic stop of a burglary suspect on US 19, south of Cumming. Chief Deputy Cantrell and Special Deputy Mulkey had stopped a vehicle he had seen the previous night, leaving a country club that had been discovered burglarized later in the day. During the traffic stop, the suspects were able to disarm Chief Deputy Cantrell. He was handcuffed before he and Reserve Deputy Mulkey were forced into the patrol car's trunk. Once in the trunk, the suspects fatally shot them both. Prior to approaching the vehicle, one of the deputies had written down the license plate number on a piece of paper. The evidence led to the arrest and conviction of the suspects. It was later determined that the suspects were prison escapees and had made a pact together to kill any officers who stopped them. Chief Deputy Cantrell was survived by his wife and two children. The stretch from Highway 9 to Ronald Reagan Boulevard was renamed “Deputy Bill Cantrell Memorial Road.” The portion from Highway 9 to Hutchinson Road was renamed “Larry Mulkey Memorial Road.”

Survivors

Chief Deputy Cantrell was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-GA-4ABA8E6A
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Chief Deputy Cantrell served with the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Cumming community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief Deputy Cantrell.

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

Agency

Department Forsyth County Sheriff's Office

Type Sheriff's Office

Location Cumming, Forsyth County, GA

Platform Identity fcso.forsyth.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 10, 1972

Age 37

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Chief Deputy James William Cantrell 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 GA, 549 of 905 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 60.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Forsyth County Sheriff's Office

of 4 officers

50% Felonious

GA — Statewide

549

of 905 officers

60.7% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious