Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff James Robertson was shot and killed one mile west of Collins, Mississippi while attempting to arrest a suspect. The suspect, who was at home with his son-in-law, had been engaged in a fight earlier in the the day with a man in Collins. When Sheriff Robertson went to the suspect's home later that night to arrest him, the suspect escaped through a window and his son-on-law opened fire on Sheriff Robertson; killing him. The father-in-law was later arrested and was eventually acquitted by a jury in 1907. The son-in-law was never found.
Survivors
Sheriff Robertson was survived by his wife and nine children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MS-FB5F06DF- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- 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.
Sheriff Robertson served with the Covington County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Collins community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Robertson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff James Asaph Robertson 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Asaph Robertson's cause is highlighted.
How James Asaph Robertson Compares
Offender Outcome
Arrested
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Asaph Robertson is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Asaph Robertson was killed by not available.