Roll of Honor
Incident
Marshal James Frisbie was shot and killed by a man wanted for train robbery in Malta, Colorado, and shooting and robbing the station agent at the Rio Grande Depot in Leadville. Marshal Frisbie was serving as the Night Marshal when he asked two suspicious acting men what they were doing in front of the Lamar Union Hotel. One of the men pulled a gun and fired at Marshal Frisbie. Even though he was struck in the heart, Marshal Frisbie managed to draw his weapon and fire it as he fell to the ground. Two weeks later a posse trapped the suspect, and a man with him, in a schoolhouse in Astor, Kansas where they shot it out with officers before surrendering. The suspect was convicted of Marshal Frisbie's murder and sentenced to hang on May 4, 1907. On August 24, 1907, Colorado Governor E. R. Harper commuted his sentence to life in prison at the behest of Marshal Frisbie's widow. The suspect later died during a failed prison escape.
Survivors
Marshal Frisbie was survived by his wife and three sons and is buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Lamar.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CO-86608271- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Marshal Frisbie served with the Lamar Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Lamar community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Marshal Frisbie.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Marshal James Horace Frisbie 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 CO, 235 of 360 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.3% of this state's fallen. That is 11.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Horace Frisbie's cause is highlighted.
How James Horace Frisbie Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life in prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Horace Frisbie is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Horace Frisbie was killed by gun; unknown type.