Roll of Honor

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Marshal

James C. A. Parsons

Centralia Police Department — Centralia, WA

Felonious

End of Watch June 30, 1903

Age 55

The Vigil Panel 18 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Marshal Parsons was shot and killed while watching a man at a local hotel who had made obscene remarks to several children. The man became disorderly and Marshal Parsons attempted to place him under arrest. A shootout ensued and Marshal Parsons was struck in the chest and fatally wounded. The suspect fled into the woods with a posse in pursuit of him. On September 22, 1904, he was apprehended in Texas. Marshal Parsons was survived by seven children. He was preceded in death by his wife.

Survivors

Marshal Parsons was survived by seven children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WA-13062796
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
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.
Marshal Parsons served with the Centralia Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Centralia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Marshal Parsons.

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

Agency

Department Centralia Police Department

Location Centralia, WA

Platform Identity centpd.lewis.wa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 30, 1903

Age 55

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; Revolver

Offender Apprehended

Marshal James C. A. Parsons 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 WA, 187 of 339 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.2% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Centralia Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Centralia Police Department

of 2 officers

50% Felonious

WA — Statewide

187

of 339 officers

55.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

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

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How James C. A. Parsons Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Apprehended

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James C. A. Parsons is highlighted in Jun.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James C. A. Parsons was killed by handgun; revolver.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Centralia Police Department are honored on badge.nw.