Roll of Honor
James S. Chesser
Incident
Correctional Officer James Chesser was bludgeoned to death by two inmates while making his rounds of the death row cell block at the Central Prison. The inmates bound and gagged him and then beat him to death during an escape attempt. Both inmates were subsequently executed in February 1940 for their prior convictions. Officer Chesser had served the North Carolina Department of Corrections for six months after retiring from the US Army with 30 years of service.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-D8E2EC33- 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.
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.
Correctional Officer Chesser served with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.
Thank you for your service to the people of North Carolina. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer Chesser.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Correctional Officer James S. Chesser 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 NC, 385 of 664 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58% of this state's fallen. That is 3.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice, 13 of 31 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 41.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James S. Chesser's cause is highlighted.
How James S. Chesser Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James S. Chesser is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James S. Chesser was killed by blunt object.
Others Who Wore This Badge
30 officers from North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
