Roll of Honor

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City Marshal

James Eli Parish

Bennington Police Department — Bennington, OK

Felonious

End of Watch July 23, 1912

Age 33

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 26 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Marshal James Parish was shot and killed from ambush while confiscating cattle from a subject.

Marshal Parish had served judgement papers against the man before taking the cattle.

As he returned to town, he was ambushed by the man's two sons and killed. Marshal Parish managed to return fire mortally wounding one suspect. The other suspect was apprehended and charged with murder.

Marshal Parish had served with the Bennington Police Department for 2 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OK-6BB1521E
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.
City Marshal Parish gave the Bennington Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Bennington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, City Marshal Parish.

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

Agency

Department Bennington Police Department

Location Bennington, OK

Platform Identity bennpd.bryan.ok.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 23, 1912

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 33

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender One shot and killed; One apprehended

City Marshal James Eli Parish 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%.

Bennington Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

OK — Statewide

403

of 582 officers

69.2% 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 Eli Parish'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 Eli Parish 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

One shot and killed; One apprehended

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Eli Parish is highlighted in Jul.

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 Eli Parish 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