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

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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.
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

Location Cumming, 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; Unknown type

Offender Convicted

Chief Deputy James William Cantrell 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 GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

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

548

of 903 officers

60.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious