Roll of Honor

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Jailer

James M. Truitt

Hood County Sheriff's Office — Granbury, TX

Felonious

End of Watch July 20, 1886

Age 46

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

The Vigil Panel 8 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 2

Incident

Jailer James Truitt was shot and killed in retaliation for his duties as a jailer. In 1875 Jailer Truitt participated in the arrest and execution of a suspect. A family member of the suspect vowed revenge on Jailer Truitt. Shortly after Jailer Truitt resigned in 1886 the family member tracked him down and lived up to his promise of killing him. Jailer Truitt was shot and killed in front of his family and his home in a neighboring county.

Jailer Truitt had served with the agency for 10 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and six children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-D37A09FE
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

140 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Jailer Truitt gave the Hood County Sheriff's Office 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Granbury community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Hood County Sheriff's Office

Location Granbury, TX

Platform Identity hcso.hood.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 20, 1886

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 46

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Jailer James M. Truitt 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 Hood County Sheriff's Office, 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.

Hood County Sheriff's Office

of 3 officers

66.7% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James M. Truitt'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 M. Truitt Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James M. Truitt is highlighted in Jul.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James M. Truitt was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Hood County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.

Sergeant

Lance Allen "Lou" McLean