James Melvin Morgan
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

James Melvin Morgan

Accident
End of Watch February 25, 1973
Age 29
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
The Vigil Panel 111 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy James Morgan was killed in an airplane accident while attempting to land on Peralta Road. His plane hit a power line and crashed upon approach. He had been involved in a search and rescue mission for a man lost in the Superstition Mountains who had been looking for gold. Deputy Morgan had served with the Pinal County Sheriff's Office for two years and previously served with the Eloy Police Department and Arizona State Prison.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-AZ-3EBD6F40
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew James. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Morgan gave the Pinal County Sheriff's Office 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Florence community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Morgan.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Florence, Pinal County, AZ
Platform Identity pcso.pinal.az.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 25, 1973
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 29
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Deputy Sheriff James Melvin Morgan is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In AZ, 95 of 330 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 28.8% of this state's fallen. That is 28.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Pinal County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 14 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 7.1% of this agency's fallen.

Pinal County Sheriff's Office
1
of 14 officers
7.1% Accident
AZ — Statewide
95
of 330 officers
28.8% Accident
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Melvin Morgan's cause is highlighted.

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

How James Melvin Morgan Compares

Age at Death
29
This officer
Avg for Accident: 38.1 years
Years of Service
5
This officer
Avg for Accident: 9.1 years

When Accident Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. James Melvin Morgan is highlighted in Feb.

Jan
820
Feb
730
Mar
748
Apr
708
May
848
Jun
797
Jul
899
Aug
938
Sep
913
Oct
925
Nov
872
Dec
897