Roll of Honor

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Jailer

James Watson Fuller

Berkshire County Sheriff's Office — Pittsfield, MA

Felonious

End of Watch July 16, 1901

Age 69

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

The Vigil Panel 17 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Jailer James Fuller was beaten to death by a prisoner at the Pittsfield House of Correction. Jailer Fuller was overseeing 20 prisoners in a workshop when one of them suddenly attacked him with a six-pound whalebone mallet.

The suspect was declared insane and committed at the Bridgewater Insane Asylum December 2nd, 1901. He died there from tuberculosis on November 8th, 1903.

Jailer Fuller was survived by his wife, two sons, daughter, and sister. One of his sons served as the sheriff of Berkshire County. Jailer Fuller had served at the House of Correction for several years and had previously served with the Pittsfield Police Department for several years.

Survivors

Jailer Fuller was survived by his wife, two sons, daughter, and sister.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Jailer Fuller gave the Berkshire County Sheriff's Office 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Pittsfield community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Jailer Fuller.

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

Agency

Department Berkshire County Sheriff's Office

Location Pittsfield, MA

Platform Identity bcso.berkshire.ma.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 16, 1901

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Age 69

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Assault

Weapon Blunt object; Hammer

Offender Committed

Jailer James Watson Fuller 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 MA, 199 of 469 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.4% of this state's fallen. That is 11.8 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

Berkshire County Sheriff's Office

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

MA — Statewide

199

of 469 officers

42.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Watson Fuller's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How James Watson Fuller Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Committed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Watson Fuller is highlighted in Jul.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Watson Fuller was killed by blunt object; hammer.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518