Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Stafford was shot and killed by a disgruntled city marshal. Deputy Stafford was at the county jail with an attorney discussing the previous night's gambling raid.
The city marshal called Deputy Stafford out of the jail and began arguing with him and told him "stay out of my business." When Deputy Stafford responded by saying he was just doing his job the marshal pulled his pistol and shot him.
The marshal was convicted of murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Deputy Stafford was survived by his wife and eight children.
Survivors
Deputy Stafford was survived by his wife and eight children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-B9409B42- 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
127 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Stafford served with the Anderson County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Palestine community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff James Monroe Stafford is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Anderson County Sheriff's Department, 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Monroe Stafford's cause is highlighted.
How James Monroe Stafford Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Monroe Stafford is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Monroe Stafford was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Anderson County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
