Roll of Honor
James Mackay
Incident
Deputy James Mackay succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained two days earlier while riding with a posse attempting to capture two men who had murdered Special Deputy William Rader two days earlier. The suspect was arrested in Needles, California, in 1895 and returned to Meagher County. He was convicted of Deputy Mackay's murder and hanged on December 20, 1895. A second suspect was hanged in Helena, Montana June 8, 1896.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MT-93BA4030- 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
133 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Mackay served with the Meagher County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the White Sulphur Spring community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff James Mackay 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 Meagher County Sheriff's Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Mackay's cause is highlighted.
How James Mackay Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1895
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Mackay is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Mackay was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Meagher County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
