Roll of Honor
John F. Lanier
Incident
Location: Alabama Incident Date: Wednesday, December 12, 1900
Deputy Collector John Lanier succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained two weeks earlier as he and three federal officers engaged in a gunfight with two men driving a wagon on a road to Huntsville.
The fight resulted from a mistake of both parties concerning the intentions of the other. In the darkness the officers thought the two men in the wagon were hauling whiskey. When ordered to halt, the two men in the wagon opened fire, thinking the officers were highway robbers. The officers returned fire wounding both men. Deputy Collector Lanier was mortally wounded. The incident was called a horrible mistake. No charges were filed.
Deputy Lanier was survived by his wife and six children.
Survivors
Deputy Lanier was survived by his wife and six children.
In Our Keeping
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- 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.
Deputy Collector Lanier served with the United States Department of the Treasury.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Collector Lanier.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Collector John F. Lanier 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue, 25 of 27 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 92.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John F. Lanier's cause is highlighted.
How John F. Lanier Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John F. Lanier is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
26 officers from United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
