Roll of Honor
Incident
Marshal James West succumbed to a gunshot wound that was sustained five days earlier when he attempted to arrest two men wanted for robbing a service station in Williams, Arizona. The marshal had been alerted that the two would be passing through town.
He located the two men trying to sell the stolen items at a service station in Needles. When he told them they were under arrest, one of them drew a handgun. As Marshal West attempted to draw his own handgun, the man shot him in the head. He was taken by train to San Bernardino where he remained in serious condition until succumbing to the wounds.
A posse of citizens chased the two suspects to the Colorado River where they were taken into custody. Both men were convicted of Marshal West's murder. The accomplice was sentenced to life in prison. The shooter was sentenced to death and executed at San Quentin State Prison on January 7, 1927.
Marshal West had served as marshal of Needles for over 20 years.
Survivors
He was a widower and was survived by his two sons, two sisters, and two brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-7911CE18- 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
20 years. You could have gone home.
Town Marshal West gave the Needles Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Needles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Town Marshal West.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Town Marshal James Monroe West, Jr. 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Needles 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Monroe West, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How James Monroe West, Jr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1927
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Monroe West, Jr. is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Monroe West, Jr. was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Needles Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
