James Edward Morton

Georgia Department of Natural Resources — Social Circle, GA

Felonious

End of Watch December 13, 1928

Age 57

The Vigil Panel 56 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 9

Incident

Game Warden Robert Morton was shot and killed in Egypt, Georgia, when he encountered a man who held a grudge against him.

Warden Morton had previously cited the man for violating fishing net regulations on the Ogeechee River. When the two encountered each other on the streets of Egypt the man began arguing with Warden Morton and then fatally shot him.

The man, age 39, was arrested and charged with murder. In May of 1930 he was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to one to three years. He was paroled on May 15, 1931.

Thank you for your service to our state. You were one of the first game wardens in Georgia. Being that the agency was formed in 1911. The first state law enforcement agency in Georgia. Blessings to your today family.

Jesse Cook, Corporal - Retired Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources - Law Enforcement Division December 14th, 2025

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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.
Game Warden Morton served with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
Thank you for your service to the Social Circle community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Game Warden Morton.

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

Agency

Department Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Location Social Circle, GA

Platform Identity gdnrcons.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 13, 1928

Age 57

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Paroled in 1931

Game Warden James Edward Morton 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 GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Georgia Department of Natural Resources, 7 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70% of this agency's fallen.

Georgia Department of Natural Resources

of 10 officers

70% Felonious

GA — Statewide

548

of 903 officers

60.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious