Roll of Honor
Incident
City Marshal James Murphy was shot and killed as he and an Osage County sheriff's deputy attempted to arrest a man for stealing a team of mules.
They learned the man was staying at a farm six miles east of Fairfax and traveled to the location in a horse and buggy to locate him. Upon arriving at the farmhouse they were told the man was out in the fields. As the officers rode out to speak to him the man opened fire on them with a shotgun without warning. Marshal Murphy was struck in the chest and killed.
The man was captured two weeks later in Butler, Missouri. He was charged with Marshal Murphy's murder but convicted of manslaughter.
Marshal Murphy was survived by his wife and several children.
Survivors
Marshal Murphy was survived by his wife and several children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OK-8D4AC760- 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.
City Marshal Murphy served with the Fairfax Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Fairfax community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, City Marshal Murphy.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
City Marshal James H. Murphy 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 OK, 403 of 582 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.2% of this state's fallen. That is 69.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James H. Murphy's cause is highlighted.
How James H. Murphy Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James H. Murphy is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James H. Murphy was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Fairfax Police Department are honored on badge.nw.