Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Sam Shelley was killed trying to apprehend two car thieves.
He was notified that a car had been stolen and that the suspects were heading his way. He parked his car on the only road available to them for escape. As the vehicle approached, he ordered them to stop, but one of the men shot him in the chest.
Outraged citizens offered a reward. The suspects were part of a gang and were captured a few months later, but they escaped jail and were not captured for another six years. The suspect was convicted of the murder of Chief of Police W.J. McAnally of the Beggs Police Department.
Deputy Shelley had served with the Osage County Sheriff's Office for his second term, had been a police officer for eight years, and also served as the Town Marshal of Pershing for three years simultaneously.
Cotton Top Walker Gang was a Prohibition Era criminal gang that robbed banks throughout Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. Members of the gang were responsible for the murders of Patrolman Coke Buchanan of the Borger, Texas, Police Department, on March 19, 1927; Deputy Sheriff Daniel Kenyon and Deputy Sheriff Almer Terry, both of the Hutchinson County, Texas, Sheriff’s Department, on April 1, 1927; and Chief W. J. McAnally of the Beggs, Oklahoma, Police Department, on May 18, 1927.
Click here to read more about the officers killed by the Cotton Top Walker Gang.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children, and his parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OK-4A8086ED- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Shelley gave the Osage County Sheriff's Office 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Pawhuska community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Shelley.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff James Sam Shelley 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 OK, 403 of 582 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.2% of this state's fallen. That is 15 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Osage County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 6 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. James Sam Shelley's cause is highlighted.
How James Sam Shelley Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Sam Shelley is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Osage County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
