Roll of Honor

Prev Next

Deputy

James Henry Roberts, III

Russell County Sheriff's Department — Phenix City, AL

Accident

End of Watch July 7, 1998

Age 59

Tour of Duty 18 yrs

The Vigil Panel 145 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Deputy Jimmy Roberts succumbed to injuries he sustained on June 27, 1998, when he was struck by a motorist while he was directing traffic at the Twin Cities Classic Horse Show on US 431. Deputy Roberts was surrounded by three marked vehicles with lights flashing and wearing a reflective vest. The vehicle which struck him was attempting to avoid a rear collision with a vehicle that had stopped. Deputy Roberts had served with the Russell County Sheriff's Department for 18 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, two daughters, a son, two stepsons, a stepdaughter, a brother, and nine grandchildren.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AL-7008C9BF
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew James. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Roberts gave the Russell County Sheriff's Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Phenix City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Roberts.

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

Agency

Department Russell County Sheriff's Department

Location Phenix City, AL

Platform Identity rcso.russell.al.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 7, 1998

Tour of Duty 18 yrs

Age 59

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Deputy James Henry Roberts, III is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In AL, 182 of 643 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 28.3% of this state's fallen. That is 2.7 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.

Russell County Sheriff's Department

of 1 officers

100% Accident

AL — Statewide

182

of 643 officers

28.3% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers

31% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Henry Roberts, III'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 Henry Roberts, III Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Accident: 38.1 years

Years of Service