Roll of Honor
Incident
Night Marshal James Ricketson was shot and killed when he stopped to question two men who were firing a handgun on the side of the road at approximately 11:30 pm.
Marshal Ricketson was driving a poll worker home following a primary election when he passed the two men on the side of the Douglas-Pearson Highway. One of the men had been drinking and refused to put the pistol away. The man then shot Marshal Ricketson twice in the stomach when he attempted to disarm him. Marshal Ricketson died of his wounds early the next morning.
The man who shot him was acquitted during his second trial for murder.
Marshal Ricketson had served with the Douglas Police Department for five years, and also served as a deputy with the Coffee County Sheriff's Office.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-9DD07971- 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.
Night Marshal Ricketson gave the Douglas Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Douglas community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Night Marshal Ricketson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Night Marshal James Ira Ricketson 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Ira Ricketson's cause is highlighted.
How James Ira Ricketson Compares
Offender Outcome
Acquitted
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Ira Ricketson is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Ira Ricketson was killed by handgun.