John Thomas Collum
Agency patch
Master Sergeant

John Thomas Collum

Felonious
End of Watch May 9, 2014
Age 56
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
The Vigil Panel 163 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Master Sergeant John Collum was struck and killed by a vehicle on John Rankin Highway, just north of Fulton while investigating a prowler at approximately 10:00 pm

A neighbor of Sergeant Collum's had called him to report the prowler, causing him to go out and investigate. He was struck by a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed on the highway.

The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and was taken into custody by Itawamba County deputies with charges pending.

Sergeant Collum had served with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks for 15 years. He was named the Southeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ Officer of the Year in 2012.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, two sons, four grandchildren, his parents, five sisters, and two brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MS-C7AB8F2E
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Master Sergeant Collum gave the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Jackson community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Master Sergeant Collum.

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

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Jackson, MS
Platform Identity mdwfpcons.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 9, 2014
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
Age 56
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Master Sergeant John Thomas Collum is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In MS, 243 of 350 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.4% of this state's fallen. That is 69.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, 6 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 54.5% of this agency's fallen.

Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
6
of 11 officers
54.5% Felonious
MS — Statewide
243
of 350 officers
69.4% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Thomas Collum's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How John Thomas Collum Compares

Age at Death
56
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
15
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Thomas Collum is highlighted in May.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location