Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff James Collins was killed when the patrol car he was riding in struck a tree during a pursuit.
He was assisting the chief of the Clarkton Police Department on a call when they were notified of the pursuit. Deputy Collins rode with the chief and they joined the pursuit.
The suspect drove for approximately 45 miles before he crashed into thick brush on Newkirk Street, a winding country road, near N.C. 701. The patrol car Deputy Collins was riding in also went off the road in the same area, adjacent to East Bladen High School, and struck a tree on the passenger side. Deputy Collins was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
The suspect was apprehended at the scene. On February 24th, 2003, he was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 10 to 13 years in prison. He was paroled on July 30th, 2013.
Deputy Collins had served with the Bladen County Sheriff's Department for 18 months.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two young children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-3E387CF9- 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.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Deputy Sheriff Collins gave the Bladen County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Elizabethtown community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Collins.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff James Brian Collins is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NC, 205 of 664 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30.9% of this state's fallen.
At Bladen County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Brian Collins's cause is highlighted.
How James Brian Collins Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled in 2013
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. James Brian Collins is highlighted in Sep.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Bladen County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
