Incident
Deputy Sheriff John "Maricopa Slim" Power was shot and killed as he attempted to stop a fight on a Barnes' Circus train at the railroad depot in Maricopa. A circus employee had confronted a hobo who attempted to board the train as it was shunted through the depot. As Deputy Power attempted to intervene the employee pulled out a gun and opened fire. Despite being wounded, Deputy Power returned fire and fatally wounded the man. Deputy Power died within three minutes of being shot. His killer died after being taken to a hospital in Florence by train. One of the bullets recovered from Deputy Power's body was not fired from the gun of the suspect, and it still remains a mystery where that shot was fired from.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AZ-C2861E89- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Power served with the Pinal County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Florence community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Power.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff John C. Power 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 Pinal County Sheriff's Office, 12 of 14 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 85.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John C. Power's cause is highlighted.
How John C. Power Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John C. Power is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John C. Power was killed by handgun; .45 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
13 officers from Pinal County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.









