Roll of Honor

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Sheriff

James O. Long

Briscoe County Sheriff's Office — Silverton, TX

Felonious

End of Watch May 5, 1915

Age 40

Tour of Duty 6 mo

The Vigil Panel 30 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

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: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 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

Department Briscoe County Sheriff's Office

Location Silverton, TX

Platform Identity bcso.briscoe.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 5, 1915

Tour of Duty 6 mo

Age 40

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Sheriff James O. Long 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 TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Briscoe County Sheriff's Office

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

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

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How James O. Long Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

0.5

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James O. Long is highlighted in May.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518