James Delbert Mitchell, Jr.

Amarillo Police Dept. — Amarillo, TX

Felonious

End of Watch November 11, 1985

Age 43

Tour of Duty 16 yrs

The Vigil Panel 130 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 15

Incident

Sergeant James Mitchell was shot and killed while returning home from work when he stopped to render aid at the scene of a one-car accident he witnessed on I-27. The driver of the vehicle began to flee. When Sergeant Mitchell ordered him to stop, he opened fire with a 9 mm handgun, striking Sergeant Mitchell four times. The shooter was sentenced to death and was executed in 2002. Sergeant Mitchell had served with the Amarillo Police Department for 16 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-15FC29EF
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.
Sergeant Mitchell gave the Amarillo Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Amarillo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Mitchell.

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

Agency

Department Amarillo Police Dept.

Location Amarillo, TX

Platform Identity apd.potter.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 11, 1985

Tour of Duty 16 yrs

Age 43

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; 9 mm

Offender Executed in 2002

Sergeant James Delbert Mitchell, Jr. 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 TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Amarillo Police Dept., 10 of 16 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.5% of this agency's fallen.

Amarillo Police Dept.

of 16 officers

62.5% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious