Roll of Honor
Prev Next
James Madison Collins
Agency patch
Patrolman

James Madison Collins

Meridian Police Department — Meridian, MS
Felonious
United States flag Mississippi flag
End of Watch October 28, 1888
Age 40
The Vigil Panel 9 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Patrolman James Collins was shot and killed while making a gambling raid. His brother, Deputy Walter Collins, was shot and killed in the line of duty on January 8, 1884, while serving with the Taylor County, Texas, Sheriff's Department.

Survivors

Patrolman Collins was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-MS-DA1346AA
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

138 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Collins served with the Meridian Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Meridian community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Meridian Police Department
Location Meridian, MS
Platform Identity mpd.lauderdale.ms.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 28, 1888
Age 40
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Not available

Patrolman James Madison Collins 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 Meridian Police Department, 5 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Meridian Police Department
5
of 5 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 Madison Collins'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 Madison Collins Compares

Age at End of Watch
40
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Not available

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Madison Collins is highlighted in Oct.

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 Madison Collins 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