James Stiner

Arizona Department of Corrections — Phoenix, AZ

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch September 18, 1967

Age 65

The Vigil Panel 103 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 9

Incident

Sergeant James Stiner was shot and killed after being abducted by a prisoner he was transporting from Pinal County Superior Court. During the court session, the prisoner was somehow passed a handgun by his wife which he hid until his return trip to jail. During the return trip, he made Sergeant Stiner drive to a remote area of desert two miles Coolidge, where he fatally shot him. The subject was captured less than 24 hours later after being involved in a shootout with members of the Casa Grande Police Department. In March 1968 the subject was convicted of Sergeant Stiner's murder and was sentenced to two life terms in prison. In 1976 the subject escaped a second time after his two sons smuggled a shotgun into the prison. One of his sons was killed in a shootout with authorities when they encountered a roadblock. Sergeant Stiner's killer fled on foot from the roadblock but was found dead of heat exhaustion nearby 11 days later. His other son and a second accomplice were arrested and charged with aiding his escape as well as four unrelated murders. Sergeant Stine was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, and U.S. Air Force. He had served with the Arizona Department of Corrections for five years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, three sons, and one stepson.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AZ-8B876C3D
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

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Sergeant Stiner served with the Arizona Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Arizona, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Arizona Department of Corrections

Location Phoenix, AZ

Platform Identity adcorr.maricopa.az.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 18, 1967

Age 65

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Sentenced to life

Military Service

James Stiner served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Sergeant James Stiner 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 AZ, 204 of 330 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Arizona Department of Corrections, 5 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Arizona Department of Corrections

of 10 officers

50% Felonious

AZ — Statewide

204

of 330 officers

61.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious