James W. Witcher

High Point Police Department — High Point, NC

Felonious

End of Watch September 15, 1913

Age 37

The Vigil Panel 28 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Officer Witcher succumbed to injuries sustained two days earlier when he was shot in the abdomen. He and the police chief were attempting to arrest a suspect when a crowd gathered. One of the people in the crowd fired a shot, which passed through the hand of the police chief and struck Officer Witcher in the abdomen. The suspect escaped.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-NC-9B57E768
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Witcher served with the High Point Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the High Point community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Witcher.

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

Agency

Department High Point Police Department

Location High Point, NC

Platform Identity hppd.guilford.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 15, 1913

Age 37

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; Pistol

Offender At large

Police Officer James W. Witcher 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 NC, 385 of 664 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58% of this state's fallen. That is 3.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At High Point Police Department, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.

High Point Police Department

of 5 officers

60% Felonious

NC — Statewide

385

of 664 officers

58% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious