Melton James Shields
Agency patch
Deputized Constable

Melton James Shields

Felonious
End of Watch February 18, 1930
Age 49
Tour of Duty
The Vigil Panel 59 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputized Constable Melton Shields was shot and killed while attempting to serve a warrant on a man wanted for stealing a pistol.

The county constable had deputized him and another man to assist with the warrant service. They located the man at his home and announced that they had a warrant. The man responded by turning off the lights and opening fire on the officers. Deputized Constable Shields was struck in the chest and mortally wounded.

The other officers returned fire and killed the subject.

Deputized Constable Shields was taken to a local hospital where he died the following day.

Deputized Constable had served as a deputized constable for only two days.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and nine children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-1A0DC5FA
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputized Constable Shields served with the Spartanburg County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Spartanburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputized Constable Shields.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Spartanburg, SC
Platform Identity scco.spartanburg.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 18, 1930
Tour of Duty
Age 49
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun

Deputized Constable Melton James Shields 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 SC, 272 of 441 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.7% of this state's fallen. That is 61.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Spartanburg County Constable's Office, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Spartanburg County Constable's Office
1
of 2 officers
50% Felonious
SC — Statewide
272
of 441 officers
61.7% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Melton James Shields's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Melton James Shields Compares

Age at Death
49
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Melton James Shields is highlighted in Feb.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Melton James Shields was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Spartanburg County Constable's Office are honored on badge.nw.