Roll of Honor
Incident
Jailer Bob Temple was shot and killed by a prisoner who succeeded in securing another jailer's pistol during a scuffle at the Lauderdale County Jail. Other officers shot and mortally wounded the prisoner.
As the prisoner lay dying, a maddened crowd of nearly 2000 people took him from the officers and hanged him from a nearby telephone pole.
Jailer Temple was the former sheriff of Lauderdale County.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MS-DCEA0967- 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 J.. 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.
Jailer Temple served with the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Meridian community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Jailer Temple.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Jailer J. R. "Bob" Temple 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 Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. J. R. "Bob" Temple's cause is highlighted.
How J. R. "Bob" Temple Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. J. R. "Bob" Temple is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. J. R. "Bob" Temple was killed by officer's handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
