Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff John Murphy was shot and killed in Walnut Creek by man he was questioning about the theft of a gold watch. The man had previously murdered a prospector and thought that was why Deputy Murphy was coming to question him. He saw the deputy approaching, hid, and then shot him in the back. The suspect then buried Deputy Murphy's body under his cabin and fled the area. The suspect's wife reported the murder to the county sheriff. The subject was later caught, convicted, and hanged on February 5th, 1886. Deputy Murphy was interred in Citizens Cemetery in Prescott, Arizona.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AZ-03147D99- 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
141 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Murphy served with the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Prescott community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff John M. Murphy 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 AZ, 204 of 330 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Yavapai County Sheriff's Office, 6 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John M. Murphy's cause is highlighted.
How John M. Murphy Compares
Offender Outcome
Hanged in 1886
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John M. Murphy is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John M. Murphy was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Yavapai County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
