Roll of Honor
Incident
Merchant Policeman James Wallace was shot and killed outside of a liquor store and service station at the intersection of Highway 43 and Highway 60 at about 1:00 am.
Two subjects had planned to rob the service station but when they arrived there they encountered Policeman Wallace. One of the men drew his weapon and attempted to disarm Policeman Wallace. When Policeman Wallace dropped his arms the subject fatally shot him and then stole his revolver.
The two subjects fled to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where they fatally shot Detective Ben Johnston and Detective Sylvester Cormack when the detectives attempted to arrest them for questioning about the murder of Tulsa Police Officer Jerry St. Clair 10 days earlier.
Both subjects were apprehended but later escaped from the Tulsa County Jail. One of the men was shot and killed by Oklahoma state troopers and the second was taken back into custody. The man who was apprehended was executed in the electric chair on November 17th, 1947.
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BO-US-MO-21381E30- Stewardship
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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.
Merchant Policeman Wallace gave the Seneca Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Seneca community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Merchant Policeman Wallace.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Merchant Policeman James Elbert Wallace 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 MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 9.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Elbert Wallace's cause is highlighted.
How James Elbert Wallace Compares
Offender Outcome
One shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Elbert Wallace is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Elbert Wallace was killed by handgun.