Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff James Land and Deputy Jessie Arvin were shot and killed by a prisoner near Old Landing while taking the man to jail. The suspect was convicted of both murders and hanged on May 29, 1857.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-324FAD69- 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
169 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff Land served with the Estill County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Irvine community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff James M. Land 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 KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 22.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Estill County Sheriff's Department, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James M. Land's cause is highlighted.
How James M. Land Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1857
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James M. Land is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James M. Land was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Estill County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
