Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Polk was shot and killed from ambush while returning home. He and a deputy had returned to his home after arresting a woman for bootlegging following a series of raids. As Sheriff Polk walked onto his porch he was shot by a man hiding in nearby woods. The deputy returned fire as the suspect fled. He threw the shotgun in a nearby creek which was later recovered. He was apprehended two days later in Hinds County. The ensuing investigation revealed that the county's major bootlegger had hired the man to kill Sheriff Polk in retaliation for the sheriff's effort to clean up the county. The suspect, 30, who fired the fatal shot was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. The bootlegger, 45, who hired him was also convicted of murder and sentenced to life. Both applied for a parole in 1970. Their outcomes are unknown. Two other men, 40 and 32, and two women, 30 and 40, involved in the plot to assassinate Sheriff Polk were all charged with murder. Both men were convicted of manslaughter and were sentenced to 10 years and 17 years respectively. The one serving 17 years got a new trial and was acquitted on December 7, 1962. The other man also got a new trial and was acquitted on February 6, 1964. The oldest woman was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 20 years. A new trial on June 17, 1964, ended with a deadlocked jury. She was released in leu of a $10,000 bond. It is not known if there was a third trial. The other woman was convicted of manslaughter and received five years of probation. Sheriff Polk had served with the agency for 8 years. He was known throughout the state for his aggressiveness in enforcing alcohol laws. He was survived by his wife and three children. His wife served the remainder of his term as sheriff and then was elected sheriff in 1962.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MS-13837F0D- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sheriff Polk gave the Marion County Sheriff's Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Columbia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Polk.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff James Vardman Polk is one of 17,558 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,585 officers honored here.
In MS, 242 of 349 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.3% of this state's fallen. That is 15.4 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.
At Marion County Sheriff's Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Vardman Polk's cause is highlighted.
How James Vardman Polk Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Vardman Polk is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Vardman Polk was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Marion County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
