James Alexander Cary
Agency patch
Park Ranger

James Alexander Cary

Felonious
End of Watch March 12, 1927
Age 31
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
The Vigil Panel 52 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Park Ranger James Cary was shot and killed when he was ambushed by bootleggers on West Mountain in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas. His body was discovered the next day by other rangers.

Survivors

Ranger Cary was survived by his wife, 5-year-old son, and 8-month-old daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-B1ECDE50
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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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Park Ranger Cary gave the United States Department of the Interior 4 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Park Ranger Cary.

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

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdinpsfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 12, 1927
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Age 31
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Park Ranger James Alexander Cary 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 DC, 754 of 1,418 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.2% of this state's fallen. That is 53.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service, 8 of 40 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 20% of this agency's fallen.

United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service
8
of 40 officers
20% Felonious
DC — Statewide
754
of 1,418 officers
53.2% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Alexander Cary's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How James Alexander Cary Compares

Age at Death
31
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
4
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Alexander Cary is highlighted in Mar.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Alexander Cary was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location