Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff James Dana was shot with a glass-tipped arrow while riding with a posse in search of a man who murdered a woman in Arizona City. The posse had gone into a river bottom to arrest the man and became engaged in a battle with local Indians. Sheriff Dana died two days after being struck by the arrow. The killer was arrested and sentenced to 25 years in prison. He later escaped and was never recaptured. Sheriff Dana had served with the Yuma County Sheriff's Office for three years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and son and is buried in Yuma Pioneer Cemetery.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AZ-1544AECD- 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
155 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff Dana gave the Yuma County Sheriff's Office 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Yuma community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff James T. Dana 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 AZ, 204 of 330 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Yuma County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James T. Dana's cause is highlighted.
How James T. Dana Compares
Offender Outcome
Escaped from prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James T. Dana is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James T. Dana was killed by edged weapon; bow and arrow.
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Yuma County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
