Roll of Honor
Incident
Special Deputy Daniels and Special Deputy Arthur Lee were shot and killed in a gun battle with local miners during a strike at the Black Mountain Coal Company.
From Febuary to June in 1931 numerous confrontations erupted between coal miners, mine guards, and law enforcement at the Black Mountain Coal Company in Evart. On April 17, during one of these confrontations, Special Deputy Jessie J. Pace of the Harlan County Sheriff's Department was shot and killed. On May 5th several deputies were sent to the area to disperse the strikers, who were clashing with non-union workers. No one knows who fired the first shot, but when the smoke cleared Deputy Daniels, Deputy Lee, a miner, and another man lay dead. An undetermined number of miners that were dead and dying were carried off into the mountains. Governor Flem D. Sampson sent 370 national guardsmen to restore order. By mid June the strike had collapsed.
Six men were eventually arrested and charged with Deputy Daniels' and Deputy Lee's murder. All six were found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.
This is my Great Grand father. As I build my family tree and learn more stories of the great people in our family I am so grateful to come across this article. Thank you to everyone who shared such kind words and to all the ones who have fallen in the line of duty protecting us! RIP Grandpa Jim!
MICHAEL J ELLENBERG February 20th, 2022
In Our Keeping
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- 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.
Special Deputy Sheriff Daniels served with the Harlan County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Harlan community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Deputy Sheriff Daniels.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Deputy Sheriff Jim Daniels 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 Harlan County Sheriff's Office, 36 of 36 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. Jim Daniels's cause is highlighted.
How Jim Daniels Compares
Offender Outcome
Six sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jim Daniels is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jim Daniels was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
35 officers from Harlan County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
