James H. Keister

Bluefield Police Department — Bluefield, WV

Felonious

End of Watch January 10, 1913

The Vigil Panel 27 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Patrolman James Keister was shot and killed while enforcing the city's cow law. He and another officer had rounded up several cows that were roaming free and taking them to the pound.

An 18-year-old man learned that his family's cow was among those being herded to the pound and went to retrieve it. He confronted Patrolman Keister and the other officer and attempted to take the cow. After the man attempted to strike Patrolman Keister he fled to his home. Patrolman Keister followed him and as he climbed the home's front stairs the man shot him in the chest with a shotgun, killing him.

The man fled but turned himself in the following day. He claimed self defense and was tried and acquitted.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-WV-1C54BCE2
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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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Keister served with the Bluefield Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Bluefield community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Keister.

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

Agency

Department Bluefield Police Department

Location Bluefield, WV

Platform Identity bpd.mercer.wv.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 10, 1913

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Patrolman James H. Keister 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 WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 18.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Bluefield Police Department, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.

Bluefield Police Department

of 5 officers

60% Felonious

WV — Statewide

169

of 232 officers

72.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious