Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable James Irey was shot and killed after responding to a farm to investigate a report of a suspicious person who was refusing to leave a shack on the property. As Constable Irey approached the shack he was ambushed by the suspect with a sawed-off shotgun. Another constable along with several men responded to the scene and shot the suspect in the legs when he refused to surrender. He was charged with murder. The suspect, 45, was adjudged insane and sent to the Mendocino State Mental Hospital. He was there in 1950.
Survivors
Constable Irey was survived by his wife and eight children.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-CA-F70D742C- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Constable Irey served with the Liberty Township Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Liberty community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Irey.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable James Washington Irey 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Washington Irey's cause is highlighted.
How James Washington Irey Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Washington Irey is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Washington Irey was killed by shotgun.