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Police Officer

James Thomas Sawyer

Custer Police Department — Custer, SD

Felonious

End of Watch June 13, 1972

Age 26

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 110 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Officer James Sawyer was shot and killed when he interrupted a burglary in progress at a local saloon. The suspects were able to take Officer Sawyer hostage. They then took him to a nearby hillside where they shot and killed him with execution style with his own weapon. The suspect was convicted of Officer Sawyer's murder and sentenced to life without parole. Officer Sawyer had served with the Custer Police Department for 2 years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-SD-0ABAEF8E
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.
Police Officer Sawyer gave the Custer Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Custer community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Sawyer.

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

Agency

Department Custer Police Department

Location Custer, SD

Platform Identity cpd.custer.sd.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 13, 1972

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 26

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Sentenced to life

Police Officer James Thomas Sawyer 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 SD, 36 of 62 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.1% of this state's fallen. That is 3.9 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Custer Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

SD — Statewide

of 62 officers

58.1% 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 Thomas Sawyer'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 Thomas Sawyer 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 Thomas Sawyer is highlighted in Jun.

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 Thomas Sawyer was killed by officer's handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518