Miles Joseph Scannell
Agency patch
Senior Patrol Inspector

Miles Joseph Scannell

Felonious
End of Watch September 9, 1929
Age 33
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
The Vigil Panel 58 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Senior Patrol Inspector Miles Scannell was shot and killed as he and another inspector patrolled along the shoreline of the Rio Grande River near Polvo, Presidio County, Texas. The inspectors were about 600 yards apart when the other inspector heard two muffled shots. Around 8:00 am he found Inspector Scannell's body suffering five bullet wounds, 15 stab wounds and badly beaten. There was evidence a struggle had ensued before Inspector Scannell was overpowered. His handcuffs and weapon were missing which led investigators to believe he had handcuffed one suspect before being jumped by the other suspects. It was concluded that he had intercepted a party of illegal aliens crossing the border to pick cotton. The suspects were never apprehended. Inspector Scannell had served with the United States Border Patrol for eight years. He was survived by his wife and a two-year-old son. He was buried in Alpine, Texas.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and a two-year-old son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-A965DDC0
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Miles. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Senior Patrol Inspector Scannell gave the United States Department of Labor 8 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Senior Patrol Inspector Scannell.

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

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdlisusbpfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 9, 1929
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Age 33
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Senior Patrol Inspector Miles Joseph Scannell 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 DC, 754 of 1,418 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.2% of this state's fallen. That is 53.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At United States Department of Labor - Immigration Service - United States Border Patrol, 20 of 28 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.4% of this agency's fallen.

United States Department of Labor - Immigration Service - United States Border Patrol
20
of 28 officers
71.4% Felonious
DC — Statewide
754
of 1,418 officers
53.2% 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. Miles Joseph Scannell's cause is highlighted.

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

How Miles Joseph Scannell Compares

Age at Death
33
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
8
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Miles Joseph Scannell is highlighted in Sep.

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. Miles Joseph Scannell was killed by gun.

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

Incident Location