James Milton Holman
Agency patch
Correctional Officer

James Milton Holman

Felonious
End of Watch August 12, 1925
Gender Male

Incident

Correctional Officer James Holman and Officer John Sweeney were shot and killed during a prison escape from the Oregon State Prison. Four prisoners attacked the prison arsenal and were able to gain control of several pistols and rifles. As they fled the main building one of the prisoners opened fire on the north tower, fatally wounding Officer Holman and Officer Sweeney and seriously wounding a third guard. Another guard returned fire, killing the suspect who had shot the other guards. Three of the suspects were able to make it out of the prison and fled to a nearby hospital where they abducted a hospital worker to tend to their injuries. One of the suspects who was arrested and sentenced to death later committed suicide by hanging himself in his cell. The other two suspects were executed in 1928.

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August 2, 2026
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August 2, 2026

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Correctional Officer Holman served with the Oregon Department of Corrections.
Thank you for your service to the people of Oregon. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer Holman.

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

Agency

Type Corrections
Location Salem, Marion County, OR
Platform Identity odcorr.marion.or.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 12, 1925
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

James is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1925, 208 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 11th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

When

August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month
By day of the week
III

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
IV

His people

Oregon Department of Corrections has 11 officers remembered here, James among them.

V

Where

Correctional Officer James Milton Holman

Oregon Department of Corrections · End of Watch August 12, 1925

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 54-W

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