Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable John DeHart succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained two days earlier when he was shot while attempting to arrest a drunk man who was causing a disturbance in the town of Floyd Courthouse.
The subject, who was on horseback, shot Constable DeHart before riding away. He was arrested by a posse moments later and charged with Constable DeHart's murder.
Constable DeHart was survived by his wife and six children.
Survivors
Constable DeHart was survived by his wife and six children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-3B23D590- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
142 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Constable DeHart served with the Floyd County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Floyd community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable John Jefferson DeHart 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 VA, 395 of 654 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Jefferson DeHart's cause is highlighted.
How John Jefferson DeHart Compares
Offender Outcome
Arrested
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Jefferson DeHart is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Jefferson DeHart was killed by gun; unknown type.