Roll of Honor
James Paul Epling
Incident
Border Patrol Agent James Epling drowned in the Colorado River near Andrade, California.
He and other agents had been involved in a foot pursuit of a Mexican national and three Chinese nationals who were spotted on the California side of the river. Agent Epling had jumped into the river and pulled the three Chinese nationals out of the water, saving one of them who was drowning. He was running downstream, attempting to arrest the Mexican national, when he went under the water.
Agents lost track of Agent Epling during the foot pursuit. He remained missing until his body was located three days later, approximately 200 yards from where he was last seen. Agents from the Yuma and San Diego Border Patrol Sectors, as well as many other United States and Mexican agencies, assisted in the search for Agent Epling.
The Mexican national, who was smuggling the others, was charged with 12 counts in connection with the incident, including transportation of illegal aliens resulting in death and transporting illegal aliens for financial gain.
Agent Epling was a member of the U.S. Army Reserve. He had served with United States Border Patrol for less than one year and was assigned to the Yuma Border Patrol Station.
Agent Epling was a member of the U.S. Army Reserve. He had served with United States Border Patrol for less than one year and was assigned to the Yuma Border Patrol Station.
Survivors
He was survived by his expectant wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-E04C150B- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Border Patrol Agent Epling gave the United States Department of Homeland Security 1 year.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
James Paul Epling served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Border Patrol Agent James Paul Epling is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.
In DC, 454 of 1,419 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 32% of this state's fallen. That is 32 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - United States Border Patrol, 32 of 63 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Paul Epling's cause is highlighted.
How James Paul Epling Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. James Paul Epling is highlighted in Dec.
Incident Location
Military Service
James Paul Epling served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit James Paul Epling’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
62 officers from United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - United States Border Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
