Incident
Deputy Constable James Turner was shot and killed by the town marshal of Piedmont when he attempted to arrest him for assault. A local attorney said the marshal attacked him when he went to the Piedmont Jail to interview a client. The marshal was arrested for murder, later tried, and acquitted. Deputy Benton had served with the Benton Township Constable's Office for 20 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-30A72BE3- 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
20 years. You could have gone home.
Deputy Constable Turner gave the Benton Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Benton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Constable Turner.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Constable James Henry Turner 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 MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 9.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Henry Turner's cause is highlighted.
How James Henry Turner Compares
Offender Outcome
Acquitted
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Henry Turner is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Henry Turner was killed by gun; unknown type.