Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Elmo Ferguson was shot and killed while attempting to arrest four bank robbery suspects. The suspects had robbed a bank in Baskin, Louisiana. Deputy Ferguson was riding in a posse, searching for the suspects. Deputy Ferguson was shot and killed, and five posse members were shot and wounded when the posse encountered the suspects in Madison Parish.
The suspects, three men and a woman, escaped after kidnapping a couple and stealing their automobile. They fled into Arkansas, where the woman and two men were arrested near Murfreesboro. The fourth suspect was apprehended two weeks later in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The three men were convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. They were also convicted of robbing the Baskin bank and other bank robberies in Louisiana and were among the first prisoners incarcerated at the new Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary in 1934. One died at the federal penitentiary in Springfield, Missouri, in 1939, and another one died in Angola State Prison on April 28, 1946.
Deputy Ferguson was survived by his wife.
Survivors
Deputy Ferguson was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-LA-2F0FC653- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Ferguson served with the Richland Parish Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Rayville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Ferguson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Elmo "Slim" Ferguson is one of 17,558 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,585 officers honored here.
In LA, 364 of 595 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.2% of this state's fallen. That is 7.3 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.
At Richland Parish Sheriff's Office, 1 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Elmo "Slim" Ferguson's cause is highlighted.
How Elmo "Slim" Ferguson Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Elmo "Slim" Ferguson is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Elmo "Slim" Ferguson was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Richland Parish Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
