Roll of Honor
Incident
City Marshal James Carter was beaten to death with a crowbar by three men he surprised breaking into the Toccoa National Bank around 4:00 a.m.
Marshal Carter's body was found just outside the bank door the next morning. Footprints beside his body led deputies to a house where the three suspects were arrested.
Due to threats of lynching, the suspects were transferred from the Toccoa Jail to the jail in Clarksville. A week later, a mob of more than 200 men broke into the prison and seized the suspects. All three were hanged from a tree just outside of town, and their bodies were riddled with bullets.
Marshal Carter was a Confederate Civil War veteran and had served with the Toccoa Police Department for ten years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-DB6445FC- 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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Also honored at salute.nw. One record, 2 gates. James is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
City Marshal Carter gave the Toccoa Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Toccoa community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
James Carter served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
City Marshal James Carter 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 Toccoa Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Carter's cause is highlighted.
How James Carter Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Carter is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Carter was killed by blunt object.
Incident Location
Military Service
James Carter served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit James Carter’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Toccoa Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
