James Joseph Mulay
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

James Joseph Mulay

Felonious
End of Watch May 19, 2003
Age 30
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
The Vigil Panel 151 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Jim Mulay was killed when his patrol car was broadsided by a vehicle being driven by an intoxicated driver at 1:00 am.

He was on patrol when the suspect vehicle entered the intersection at Cedar Hills Bridge and Old Galena Road. The drunken driver struck Deputy Mulay's patrol car on the passenger side and he suffered fatal injuries.

The suspect was apprehended and charged with reckless homicide and driving while intoxicated. In September 2004 the subject was found not guilty of all charges.

Deputy Mulay had served with the Peoria County Sheriff's Office for seven years. He was the supervisor of the agency's Explorer Post and a member of its Emergency Response Team.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two young sons, parents, and a brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-E10196DE
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.
Deputy Sheriff Mulay gave the Peoria County Sheriff's Office 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Peoria community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Mulay.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Peoria, Peoria County, IL
Platform Identity pcso.peoria.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 19, 2003
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 30
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Vehicular assault
Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Deputy Sheriff James Joseph Mulay 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 IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 63.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Peoria County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

Peoria County Sheriff's Office
3
of 4 officers
75% Felonious
IL — Statewide
842
of 1,318 officers
63.9% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

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

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

How James Joseph Mulay Compares

Age at Death
30
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
7
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

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

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Joseph Mulay was killed by automobile; alcohol involved.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location