Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy John Turman was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man.
Deputy Turman was the proprietor of the Turman Hotel and was in the kitchen when two patrons began arguing in the dining room. One of the two men left, and the remaining man continued to curse and denounce him. Deputy Turman asked the man to leave, and the man agreed but continued cursing. Deputy Turman followed the man outside, where he grabbed onto his arm and told him he was under arrest.
The suspect then threatened to kill the next man who touched him. Deputy Turman enlisted the help of a friend and then again attempted to arrest the man. As Deputy Turman and the friend attempted to grab him, the man opened fire, striking Deputy Turman in the side four times. Deputy Turman returned fire twice but did not hit the suspect.
The suspect was tried for murdering Deputy Turman several times and was eventually sentenced to 3 years in the Texas State Penitentiary for manslaughter. The suspect's brother killed Brown County, Texas, Deputy Sheriff Charles Webb in 1874. A cousin by marriage of the suspect killed Officer Ben Collins in 1906.
Deputy Turman was survived by his wife and ten children.
He was buried in Junction Cemetery in Junction, Texas.
The suspect was tried for murdering Deputy Turman several times and was eventually sentenced to 3 years in the Texas State Penitentiary for manslaughter. The suspect's brother killed Brown County, Texas, Deputy Sheriff Charles Webb in 1874. A cousin by marriage of the suspect killed Officer Ben Collins in 1906.
Survivors
Deputy Turman was survived by his wife and ten children.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-TX-42CF040E- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
128 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Turman served with the Kimble County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Junction community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff John Martin Calhoun Turman 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 TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Kimble County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 3 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 Martin Calhoun Turman's cause is highlighted.
How John Martin Calhoun Turman Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Martin Calhoun Turman is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Martin Calhoun Turman was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Kimble County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
