Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant James Mitchell was shot and killed while returning home from work when he stopped to render aid at the scene of a one-car accident he witnessed on I-27. The driver of the vehicle began to flee. When Sergeant Mitchell ordered him to stop, he opened fire with a 9 mm handgun, striking Sergeant Mitchell four times. The shooter was sentenced to death and was executed in 2002. Sergeant Mitchell had served with the Amarillo Police Department for 16 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-15FC29EF- 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.
Sergeant Mitchell gave the Amarillo Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Amarillo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Mitchell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant James Delbert Mitchell Jr. 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%.
At Amarillo Police Department, 10 of 16 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Delbert Mitchell Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How James Delbert Mitchell Jr. Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Delbert Mitchell Jr. is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Delbert Mitchell Jr. was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
15 officers from Amarillo Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
