Roll of Honor

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City Marshal

Sam M. Watson

Okolona Police Department — Okolona, MS

Felonious

End of Watch February 22, 1974

Age 61

Tour of Duty 27 yrs

The Vigil Panel 113 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

City Marshal Sam Watson was shot and killed as he entered the rear door of the police station after being called back to the station by dispatch.

The Justice of the Peace was arrested and charged with his murder.

Marshal Watson had served with the Okolona Police Department for 27 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MS-2F4FEC79
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

27 years. You could have gone home.
City Marshal Watson gave the Okolona Police Department 27 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Okolona community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, City Marshal Watson.

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

Agency

Department Okolona Police Department

Location Okolona, MS

Platform Identity opd.chickasaw.ms.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 22, 1974

Tour of Duty 27 yrs

Age 61

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Charged with murder

City Marshal Sam M. Watson 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 MS, 242 of 349 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.3% of this state's fallen. That is 15.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Okolona Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Okolona Police Department

of 2 officers

100% Felonious

MS — Statewide

242

of 349 officers

69.3% 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. Sam M. Watson'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 Sam M. Watson Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Charged with murder

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Sam M. Watson is highlighted in Feb.

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. Sam M. Watson was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Okolona Police Department are honored on badge.nw.