James L. Nealy
Agency patch
Constable

James L. Nealy

Felonious
End of Watch May 3, 1930
Age 43
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
The Vigil Panel 59 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Constable James Nealy succumbed to gunshot wounds received several days earlier when two men opened fire while he and several officers conducted a raid on an illegal moonshine still.

One subject was shot and arrested at the scene. The other man was arrested several days later.

Both were acquitted after evidence was introduced that showed that Constable Nealy could have been accidentally shot by a fellow officer.

Constable Nealy had served with the Raleigh County Constable's Office for 13 months.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-WV-8C983A1C
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
September 9, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

You barely got started.
Constable Nealy gave the Raleigh County Constable's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Beckley community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Nealy.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Beckley, WV
Platform Identity rcco.raleigh.wv.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 3, 1930
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
Age 43
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun

Constable James L. Nealy 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 WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 72.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Raleigh County Constable's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Raleigh County Constable's Office
2
of 2 officers
100% Felonious
WV — Statewide
169
of 232 officers
72.8% 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 L. Nealy's cause is highlighted.

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

How James L. Nealy Compares

Age at Death
43
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
1.1
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James L. Nealy 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 L. Nealy was killed by handgun.

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

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Raleigh County Constable's Office are honored on badge.nw.