Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff James Long was shot and killed by the principal of Silverton High School following a dispute about school matters.
The principal had been accused of harassing male teachers who were living in a boarding house. The sheriff spoke to the principal about the matter after being asked to.
The principal went home and obtained his revolver following the conversation. He found Sheriff Long at the local drug store in Silverton and then fatally shot him as he exited the store. The principal was arrested and charged with Sheriff Long's murder. The trial ended in a mistrial after being moved to Hale County in a change of venue.
Sheriff Long had served with the Briscoe County Sheriff's Office for only six months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-143C986E- 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.
Sheriff Long served with the Briscoe County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Silverton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Long.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff James O. Long 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 TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James O. Long's cause is highlighted.
How James O. Long Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James O. Long is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Briscoe County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.