Roll of Honor

Prev Next

Deputy Sheriff

James Garfield Pugh

Jasper County Sheriff's Office — Bay Springs, MS

Felonious

End of Watch August 24, 1929

The Vigil Panel 58 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Deputy Sheriff James Pugh was shot and killed in Fouke after responding to a fight involving several drunk men near the Fouke Lumber Company commissary at about midnight.

He had placed one man under arrest when another approached him and opened fire, killing him. The man fled toward Hickory and remained at large until committing suicide in Choctaw County, Alabama, about two weeks later.

Deputy Pugh was survived by his wife, daughter, parents, and several siblings.

Survivors

Deputy Pugh was survived by his wife, daughter, parents, and several siblings.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MS-5DE7D0A5
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew James. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Pugh served with the Jasper County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Bay Springs community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Pugh.

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

Agency

Department Jasper County Sheriff's Office

Location Bay Springs, MS

Platform Identity jcso.jasper.ms.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 24, 1929

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Deputy Sheriff James Garfield Pugh 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 MS, 242 of 349 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.3% of this state's fallen. That is 15.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Jasper County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Jasper County Sheriff's Office

of 2 officers

100% Felonious

MS — Statewide

242

of 349 officers

69.3% 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 Garfield Pugh'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 Garfield Pugh Compares

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Garfield Pugh is highlighted in Aug.

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 Garfield Pugh was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Jasper County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.