James Edgar Hillberry
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

James Edgar Hillberry

Broward County Sheriff's Office — Fort Lauderdale, FL
Felonious
End of Watch December 4, 1964
Age 30
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
The Vigil Panel 100 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff James Hillberry succumbed to gunshot wounds he received after stopping for a routine check of a vehicle on the side of the road in front of 2280 Hammondville Road on Thanksgiving morning. As soon as Deputy Hillberry approached the vehicle, the subject exited his car and attacked Deputy Hillberry. During the struggle with Deputy Hillberry, the subject was able to gain control of his gun. He shot Deputy Hillberry in the stomach before turning the weapon on an auxiliary deputy who was riding with Deputy Hillberry. The subject returned to his vehicle and fled the area. Deputy Hillberry was transported to North District Hospital, where he died eight days later. The suspect, 41, was arrested a short time later in West Palm Beach. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Deputy Hillberry had served with the Broward County Sheriff's Office for two years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, three children, and a brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-06120BD9
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.
Deputy Sheriff Hillberry gave the Broward County Sheriff's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Fort Lauderdale community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Hillberry.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, FL
Platform Identity browso.broward.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 4, 1964
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 30
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun

Deputy Sheriff James Edgar Hillberry is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 53.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Broward County Sheriff's Office, 13 of 24 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 54.2% of this agency's fallen.

Broward County Sheriff's Office
13
of 24 officers
54.2% Felonious
FL — Statewide
539
of 1,008 officers
53.5% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Edgar Hillberry's cause is highlighted.

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

How James Edgar Hillberry Compares

Age at Death
30
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
2
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Edgar Hillberry is highlighted in Dec.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Edgar Hillberry was killed by officer's handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location