Roll of Honor
James Harris "Buck" Phillips
Incident
Special Agent Buck Phillips was shot and killed in Portland, Oregon while attempting to arrest several boxcar thieves. The thieves had been boarding slow-moving trains in the Albina Yard and then throwing goods onto an adjacent road, where an accomplice in a truck would pick them up. Agent Phillips and his partner were patrolling opposite sides of a train when he encountered the thieves. As he attempted to arrest them one of them opened fire, striking him three times. Despite being mortally wounded, he returned fire and wounded one of the men. The suspects were arrested several days later in Albina, Oregon, after an intensive search by local police, railroad police, and federal agents. The suspect who shot Agent Phillips was sentenced to death and executed by hanging on August 24th, 1923. Agent Phillips was survived by his wife, child, and mother. His brother, Deputy Robert Phillips, had also been shot and killed in the line of duty on November 18th, 1917, while serving with the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office.
Survivors
Agent Phillips was survived by his wife, child, and mother.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-RR-4059EED1- Stewardship
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- 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.
Special Agent Phillips served with the Oregon-Washington Railroad and Navigation Company Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Portland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Phillips.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Agent James Harris "Buck" Phillips 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 OR, 115 of 197 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.4% of this state's fallen. That is 4.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Harris "Buck" Phillips's cause is highlighted.
How James Harris "Buck" Phillips Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1923
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Harris "Buck" Phillips is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Harris "Buck" Phillips was killed by gun; unknown type.