James Hiram Waller

Georgia Department of Natural Resources — Social Circle, GA

Felonious

End of Watch August 20, 1927

Age 39

The Vigil Panel 53 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 9

Incident

Game Warden James Waller was shot and killed from ambush while patrolling the Ogeechee River in Chatham County with another man.

They were in the middle of the river about three-quarters of a mile above Morgans Bridge when two shotgun blasts were fired from the river bank and Warden Waller was hit in the neck. His companion was hit with birdshot and slightly wounded. He beached the boat on the opposite bank and ran to a nearby highway where he flagged down a motorist. When help arrived at the location of the boat they found that Warden Waller had died.

Shotgun shells found on the river bank indicated that two shotguns were used, a 16 gauge and a 12 gauge. Bloodhounds led Chatham County officers to a nearby home where two men, 19 and 24, were apprehended and charged with murder.

Warden Waller was survived by his wife and five children.

Survivors

Warden Waller was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-GA-73ED7328
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.
Game Warden Waller served with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
Thank you for your service to the Social Circle community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Game Warden Waller.

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

Agency

Department Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Location Social Circle, GA

Platform Identity gdnrcons.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 20, 1927

Age 39

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Charged with murder

Game Warden James Hiram Waller 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 Georgia Department of Natural Resources, 7 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70% of this agency's fallen.

Georgia Department of Natural Resources

of 10 officers

70% Felonious

GA — Statewide

548

of 903 officers

60.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious