Roll of Honor

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Sheriff

James E. Summers

Madison County Sheriff's Office — Virginia City, MT

Felonious

End of Watch January 25, 1901

Age 38

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 16 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Sheriff Summers was shot and killed in Morgan Gulch while attempting to serve an arrest warrant on a 18 year-old youth for burglary of a rancher's cabin. The suspect was apprehended the following day. The suspect was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to life in prison May 26, 1901. In 1913 his sentence was reduced to 20 to 25 years. Sheriff Summers was survived by his wife and five children. He is buried in the Virginia City Cemetery.

Survivors

Sheriff Summers was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

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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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sheriff Summers gave the Madison County Sheriff's Office 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Virginia City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Summers.

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

Agency

Department Madison County Sheriff's Office

Location Virginia City, MT

Platform Identity mcso.madison.mt.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 25, 1901

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 38

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Sentenced to life

Sheriff James E. Summers 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 MT, 93 of 142 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.5% of this state's fallen. That is 11.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Madison 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.

Madison County Sheriff's Office

of 2 officers

50% Felonious

MT — Statewide

of 142 officers

65.5% 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 E. Summers'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 E. Summers Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to life

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James E. Summers is highlighted in Jan.

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 E. Summers 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

Others Who Wore This Badge

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