Roll of Honor
Incident
Reserve Deputy James Epp drowned while attempting to save two women trapped in a car when the Salt River flooded the roadway at Schoolhouse Road and Grapevine Road. Deputy Epp and a civilian who was assisting him were swept away by the river as they attempted to attach a chain to the car. His body was found one mile downstream. The civilian survived. Deputy Epp had served with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office for nearly 20 years and was awarded the Arizona Medal of Valor posthumously in May 1978. He volunteered with the agency for nearly 20 years prior to his death.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AZ-4C16DEA2- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew James. 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.
Reserve Deputy Epp gave the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the Phoenix community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Reserve Deputy Epp.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Reserve Deputy James L. Epp is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In AZ, 95 of 330 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 28.8% of this state's fallen. That is 2.2 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, 10 of 28 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 35.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James L. Epp's cause is highlighted.
How James L. Epp Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. James L. Epp is highlighted in Mar.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
27 officers from Maricopa County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
