Roll of Honor
Incident
Special Deputy Sheriff James Harris was shot and killed in Plantersville while attempting to serve a warrant on a wanted subject.
He had been deputized by a sheriff's deputy who asked him to assist with the arrest. They encountered the man chopping wood. When they told him he was under arrest the man grabbed a shotgun and opened fire, striking Deputy Harris.
The other deputy returned fire as the man fled. The man, 35, remained at large until being arrested in Pensacola, Florida, in December 1893. He was convicted of murder, on May 24, 1894, and sentenced to hang. Governor Thomas G. Jones commuted his sentence to life.
Special Deputy Sheriff Harris, On today, the 130th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of Chilton County.
R.I.P. USBP
Anonymous United States Border Patrol April 3rd, 2023
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-AL-25E00E8F- 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
133 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Special Deputy Sheriff Harris served with the Chilton County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Clanton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Deputy Sheriff James Harris 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 AL, 405 of 643 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this state's fallen. That is 8.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Chilton County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Harris's cause is highlighted.
How James Harris Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Harris is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Harris was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Chilton County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
