James M. Land
Agency patch
Sheriff

James M. Land

Felonious
End of Watch March 22, 1857
Age 28
The Vigil Panel 2 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sheriff James Land and Deputy Jessie Arvin were shot and killed by a prisoner near Old Landing while taking the man to jail. The suspect was convicted of both murders and hanged on May 29, 1857.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-324FAD69
Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

169 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff Land served with the Estill County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Irvine community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Irvine, Estill County, KY
Platform Identity ecso.estill.ky.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 22, 1857
Age 28
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Sheriff James M. Land 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 KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 76.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Estill County Sheriff's Department, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Estill County Sheriff's Department
4
of 4 officers
100% Felonious
KY — Statewide
755
of 983 officers
76.8% 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 M. Land's cause is highlighted.

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

How James M. Land Compares

Age at Death
28
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James M. Land is highlighted in Mar.

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 M. Land was killed by gun.

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