Jimmy Charles Matthews
Deputy Sheriff

Jimmy Charles Matthews

Felonious
End of Watch April 26, 1982
Age 43
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
The Vigil Panel 125 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Jimmy Matthews was shot and killed when he and two other deputies responded to a suspicious person call involving a man with previous mental illness. Deputy Matthews attempted to look through a window after responding officers received no answer at the door. The man immediately opened fire, striking Deputy Matthews in the face. The subject was later shot and killed when officers attempted to enter the home. Deputy Matthews had served with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office for seven years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-LA-52C5C787
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 Matthews gave the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Baton Rouge community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Matthews.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Baton Rouge, LA
Platform Identity ebrpso.ebr.la.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 26, 1982
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 43
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Shotgun

Deputy Sheriff Jimmy Charles Matthews is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 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 61.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Department, 11 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 84.6% of this agency's fallen.

East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Department
11
of 13 officers
84.6% Felonious
LA — Statewide
364
of 595 officers
61.2% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,756 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jimmy Charles Matthews's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Jimmy Charles Matthews Compares

Age at Death
43
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
7
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jimmy Charles Matthews is highlighted in Apr.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jimmy Charles Matthews was killed by shotgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909