Roll of Honor
John Savage West
Incident
Location: Tennessee Weapon: Rifle Offender: Arrested
Posseman John West was shot and killed from ambush as he and two other federal revenue officers destroyed a still near Roberts Siding, between Boma and Silver Point, in Putnam County, Tennessee.
The officers were fired on from ambush and Posseman West was killed. The other officers were able to retreat to safety and left the scene to get assistance. A posse returned to the scene and recovered Posseman West's body.
Posseman West was employed by the Office of Internal Revenue to assist with raiding stills.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and several grown children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-C33099DC- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Posseman West served with the United States Department of the Treasury.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Posseman West.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Posseman John Savage West 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue, 25 of 27 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 92.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Savage West's cause is highlighted.
How John Savage West Compares
Offender Outcome
Arrested
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Savage West is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Savage West was killed by rifle.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
26 officers from United States Department of the Treasury - Office of Internal Revenue are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
