Roll of Honor

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Chief of Police

James M. Mumford

Elgin Police Dept. — Elgin, TX

Felonious

End of Watch November 15, 1963

Age 54

Tour of Duty 5 yrs 6 mo

The Vigil Panel 98 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Chief of Police James Mumford was shot and killed while assisting a highway patrolman stop a stolen car on Highway 290. When the suspect's car was forced to stop the driver exited the car and opened fire with a handgun, striking Chief Mumford in the head. The highway patrolman was also shot and seriously wounded but was able to return fire. Two passing motorists were able to subdue the suspect. The man who shot him was sentenced to 12 years in jail. Chief Mumford had served with the Elgin Police Department for 18 months and had previously served as chief of the Granger Police Department for four years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-9FAF35AB
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.
Chief of Police Mumford gave the Elgin Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Elgin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Mumford.

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

Agency

Department Elgin Police Dept.

Location Elgin, TX

Platform Identity epd.bastrop.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 15, 1963

Tour of Duty 5 yrs 6 mo

Age 54

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Sentenced to 12 years

Chief of Police James M. Mumford 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%.

Elgin Police Dept.

of 1 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 M. Mumford'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 M. Mumford Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

5.5

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 12 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James M. Mumford is highlighted in Nov.

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 M. Mumford was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518