Roll of Honor

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Constable

James K. "Polk" Phillips

Tyler County Constable's Office - Precinct 2 — Woodville, TX

Felonious

End of Watch December 11, 1893

Age 49

The Vigil Panel 12 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Constable Polk Phillips was shot and killed from ambush in front of his home in Colmesneil, Texas.

A subject who had had an encountered with Constable Phillips several days prior had paid two men $25 to murder him. The man then supplied them with a shotgun and Winchester rifle.

The two men hid near the house and waited for him in ambush. As Constable Phillips and his son approached the gate the subject with the shotgun opened fire, killing the constable. The men fled but were apprehended and charged with murder.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-A2D9031A
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

133 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Constable Phillips served with the Tyler County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Woodville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Tyler County Constable's Office - Precinct 2

Location Woodville, TX

Platform Identity tccop2co.tyler.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 11, 1893

Age 49

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Charged with murder

Constable James K. "Polk" Phillips 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 Tyler County Constable's Office - Precinct 2, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Tyler County Constable's Office - Precinct 2

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 K. "Polk" Phillips'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 K. "Polk" Phillips Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Charged with murder

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James K. "Polk" Phillips 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 K. "Polk" Phillips was killed by shotgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Tyler County Constable's Office - Precinct 2 are honored on badge.nw.