James Lonnie Mize

DeKalb County Police Department — Tucker, GA

Felonious

End of Watch February 6, 1954

Age 48

The Vigil Panel 89 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 32

Incident

Officer James Mize was shot and killed by a suspect he had just arrested on a warrant. When Officer Mize and his partner went to arrest the suspect he was very friendly to the officers and stated the warrant was a mistake. Because the suspect was being so nice Officer Mize's partner drove the suspect's car to the stationhouse while Officer Mize drove the suspect. While on the way to the stationhouse the suspect took Officer Mize's gun and fatally shot him. Officer Mize's partner witnessed what had happened and ran to assist his partner but was shot and wounded as the suspect escaped. The man was later recaptured and executed by electric chair in 1956. Officer Mize is buried in East View Cemetery, East Atlanta, DeKalb County, Georgia.

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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.
Officer Mize served with the DeKalb County Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Tucker community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Mize.

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

Agency

Department DeKalb County Police Department

Location Tucker, GA

Platform Identity dcpd.dekalb.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 6, 1954

Age 48

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Executed in 1956

Officer James Lonnie Mize 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 GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At DeKalb County Police Department, 16 of 33 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 48.5% of this agency's fallen.

DeKalb County Police Department

of 33 officers

48.5% Felonious

GA — Statewide

548

of 903 officers

60.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious