Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Horton was shot and killed when he interrupted a burglary in progress of a wine cellar at Chestnut Street and Powell Street. On August 3, 1922, Officer Horton's killer shot and killed Detective Sergeant Timothy Bailey with the San Francisco Police Department. The subject told his sister-in-law that he had gotten away with six murders including that of Officer Horton. She called the San Francisco Police and reported what he had said. A search was already underway for the subject after county jail inmates informed police that the subject, while in jail with them, had bragged to them about getting away with six murders including that of Officer Horton. As Sergeant Bailey with several officers arrived at their shack the subject opened fire killing him, wounded another officer, killed his sister-in-law, and then shot and killed himself. The killer, 28, was Walter Castor. He had killed a man in 1913, was convicted of manslaughter, sentenced to six years, and released in 1918. His mother said he was kicked in the head by a horse when he was 7-years-old, and was never right again after that. His father was Officer Charles F. Castor of the San Francisco Police Department, who was shot and killed in the line of duty on November 26, 1911.
Survivors
Officer Horton had been with the agency for three years and was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-79A5E9ED- 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.
Officer Horton gave the San Francisco Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Francisco community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Horton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer James W. Horton 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 53 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At San Francisco Police Department, 66 of 106 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James W. Horton's cause is highlighted.
How James W. Horton Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James W. Horton is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James W. Horton was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
105 officers from San Francisco Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
