James Thomas Dempsey
Agency patch
Special Agent

James Thomas Dempsey

Accident
End of Watch September 29, 1936
Age 51
The Vigil Panel 72 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Special Agent James Dempsey was killed in a train crash near Moore's Station, five miles south of Winnfield, Louisiana, while in the engine of the railroad's passenger train known as the "Hustler."

The train derailed when as it passed over a partially opened switch. Special Agent Dempsey and the engineer were killed while two other employees were injured.

The railroad company was experiencing a worker strike at the time of the crash and foul play was suspected. A bloodhound conducted a successful track from the switch to a nearby highway. It is not known if foul play was ever proven.

Special Agent Dempsey had previously served with the Bowie County County Constable's Office - Precinct 1 in Texas.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and seven children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-623F23DC
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.
Special Agent Dempsey served with the Louisiana and Arkansas Railway Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Shreveport community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Dempsey.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Shreveport, LA
Platform Identity larpd.rr.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 29, 1936
Age 51
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Special Agent James Thomas Dempsey is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In LA, 180 of 595 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30.3% of this state's fallen. That is 30.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Louisiana and Arkansas Railway Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Louisiana and Arkansas Railway Police Department
1
of 2 officers
50% Accident
LA — Statewide
180
of 595 officers
30.3% Accident
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Thomas Dempsey's cause is highlighted.

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

How James Thomas Dempsey Compares

Age at Death
51
This officer
Avg for Accident: 38.1 years

When Accident Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. James Thomas Dempsey is highlighted in Sep.

Jan
820
Feb
730
Mar
748
Apr
708
May
848
Jun
797
Jul
899
Aug
938
Sep
913
Oct
925
Nov
872
Dec
897

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Louisiana and Arkansas Railway Police Department are honored on badge.nw.