Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff John Blackburn was stabbed to death while attempting to arrest a murder suspect wanted in California. The sheriff and the suspect had argued earlier in the day and then met later that night in a saloon. As Sheriff Blackburn attempted to take the man into custody he was stabbed several times in the chest with a bowie knife. The man escaped but was later shot and killed by another person whom he had threatened to kill the previous night. Sheriff Blackburn was the first Nevada lawman killed in the line of duty. Sheriff Blackburn was a United States Army veteran. He had served with the Carson County Sheriff's Office for two years and had previously served with the United States Marshals Service.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NV-B8F1E953- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Sheriff Blackburn gave the Carson County Sheriff's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Carson City community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John L. Blackburn served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Sheriff John L. Blackburn 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 NV, 81 of 145 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.9% of this state's fallen. That is 1.7 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. John L. Blackburn's cause is highlighted.
How John L. Blackburn Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John L. Blackburn is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John L. Blackburn was killed by edged weapon; knife.