Roll of Honor

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Sheriff

James Franklin Newman

Nolan County Sheriff's Department — Sweetwater, TX

Felonious

End of Watch December 30, 1914

Age 65

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

The Vigil Panel 29 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Sheriff J.F. Newman succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained 22 years earlier.

Two suspects shot Sheriff Newman with shotguns while he was walking the streets of Sweetwater. They were out on bond after Sheriff Newman had testified against them for horse theft. Sheriff Newman never recovered from the wounds and died as a direct result of his injuries.

The suspects were apprehended and served six years in prison.

Sheriff Newman had served with the Nolan County Sheriff's Department for six years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-2E2987D6
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.
Sheriff Newman gave the Nolan County Sheriff's Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Sweetwater community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Newman.

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

Agency

Department Nolan County Sheriff's Department

Location Sweetwater, TX

Platform Identity ncso.nolan.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 30, 1914

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Age 65

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Shotgun

Offender 6 years

Sheriff James Franklin Newman 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 Nolan County Sheriff's Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Nolan County Sheriff's Department

of 2 officers

100% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% 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 Franklin Newman'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 Franklin Newman 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

6 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Franklin Newman is highlighted in Dec.

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 Franklin Newman was killed by shotgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Nolan County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.