Roll of Honor
James Lee Tartt
Incident
Agent Lee Tartt was shot and killed as he and other members of a Mississippi Department of Public Safety SWAT team attempted to make entry into a home during a barricade situation near Iuka, Mississippi.
A male subject had taken his wife and child hostage in the home during a domestic dispute, but allowed them to leave during the standoff. The man opened fire on the SWAT team members as they entered the home after the woman and child were released. Agent Tartt was fatally wounded, and three other members of the team were wounded.
The subject was shot and killed.
Agent Tartt had served with the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics for 16 years and had served in law enforcement for 22 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MS-650C93D6- 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
22 years. You could have gone home.
Agent Tartt gave the Mississippi Department of Public Safety 22 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Agent Tartt.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Agent James Lee Tartt 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 Mississippi Department of Public Safety - Bureau of Narcotics, 2 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Lee Tartt's cause is highlighted.
How James Lee Tartt Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Lee Tartt is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Lee Tartt was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Mississippi Department of Public Safety - Bureau of Narcotics are honored on badge.nw.
