John Jefferson DeHart
Agency patch
Constable

John Jefferson DeHart

Felonious
End of Watch February 14, 1884
Age 43
The Vigil Panel 8 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Constable John DeHart succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained two days earlier when he was shot while attempting to arrest a drunk man who was causing a disturbance in the town of Floyd Courthouse.

The subject, who was on horseback, shot Constable DeHart before riding away. He was arrested by a posse moments later and charged with Constable DeHart's murder.

Constable DeHart was survived by his wife and six children.

Survivors

Constable DeHart was survived by his wife and six children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-3B23D590
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

142 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Constable DeHart served with the Floyd County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Floyd community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Floyd, VA
Platform Identity fcco.floyd.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 14, 1884
Age 43
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Constable John Jefferson DeHart 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 VA, 394 of 656 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.1% of this state's fallen. That is 60.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Floyd County Constable's Office
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
VA — Statewide
394
of 656 officers
60.1% 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 Jefferson DeHart's cause is highlighted.

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

How John Jefferson DeHart Compares

Age at Death
43
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Jefferson DeHart is highlighted in Feb.

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. John Jefferson DeHart was killed by gun; unknown type.

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

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Floyd County Constable's Office are honored on badge.nw.