Manley Jackson
Agency patch
Chief of Police

Manley Jackson

Pocahontas Police Department — Pocahontas, AR
Felonious
End of Watch November 8, 1931
Age 32
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
The Vigil Panel 63 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Chief of Police Manley Jackson was shot and killed along Highway 79 (modern-day Route 115) two miles north of Pocahontas. Chief Jackson was serving as a Night Marshal and was writing down the license plate of a suspicious car when members of the Barker-Karpis Gang kidnaped him. He was driven to a nearby quarry and was allowed to get out and walk a little way before he was shot four times and killed. His body was found the following day. Initially, a local man confessed to killing Chief Jackson and implicated a sheriff and another citizen. They were prosecuted, but the sheriff was exonerated. Later, the confessor admitted that he had wanted revenge against the sheriff and falsely claimed that he had killed Chief Jackson at the sheriff's request. An autobiography by one of the leaders of the Barker-Kipnes Gang detailed the murder of Chief Manley by members of the gang. The suspect was eventually shot and killed by FBI agents. Chief Jackson had served with the Pocahontas Police Department for one year. Survivors include his wife and two children. The Barker-Karpis Gang committed violent crimes throughout the American Midwest in the late 1920s and mid-1930s. Members and associates of the gang were responsible for the murders of more than ten law enforcement officers. Please click here to view all the law enforcement officers killed by the Barker-Karpis Gang.

Survivors

Survivors include his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-AR-2AF6A2AD
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

You barely got started.
Chief of Police Jackson gave the Pocahontas Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Pocahontas community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Jackson.

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

Agency

Location Pocahontas, AR
Platform Identity ppd.randolph.ar.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 8, 1931
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
Age 32
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun; .45 caliber
Offender Shot and killed

Chief of Police Manley Jackson 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 AR, 249 of 372 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.9% of this state's fallen. That is 12.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Pocahontas Police Department, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Pocahontas Police Department
4
of 4 officers
100% Felonious
AR — Statewide
249
of 372 officers
66.9% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Manley Jackson's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Manley Jackson Compares

Age at End of Watch
32
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
1
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Manley Jackson is highlighted in Nov.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Manley Jackson was killed by handgun; .45 caliber.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location