James Monroe Stafford

Anderson County Sheriff's Department — Palestine, TX

Felonious

End of Watch June 15, 1899

Age 42

The Vigil Panel 15 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

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: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 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

Department Anderson County Sheriff's Department

Location Palestine, TX

Platform Identity acso.anderson.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 15, 1899

Age 42

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Sentenced to 25 years

Deputy Sheriff James Monroe Stafford 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 TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

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.

Anderson County Sheriff's Department

of 5 officers

80% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious