Dean Martin James
Incident
Police Officer Dean James was shot and killed when he attempted to arrest a suspect who had escaped from the Hopi Tribal Jail the previous day. Officer James was en route to work when he observed the escapee hitchhiking along the highway. When Officer James exited his vehicle the man opened fire with a .22 caliber rifle. Despite being mortally wounded, Officer James was able to return fire and shot the man several times, wounding him. The man was arrested at the scene. He was convicted of Officer James' murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Officer James was assigned to the Hopi Tribal Police in Arizona and had served with the agency for four years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, three sons, and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
NW-H799-8ZR7-Gearlier record number BO-US-FED-1687FD20- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer James gave the United States Department of the Interior 4 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer James.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
United States Department of the Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services has lost 52 officers; 45 of them killed feloniously.
Dean is one of 754 officers killed feloniously in DC, 53.1% of the 1,419 remembered there.
Dean is one of 15,741 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.2% of the 27,543 remembered there.
Dean is one of 17,629 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,910 remembered here.
33,910 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1988, 2 officers at United States Department of the Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services were killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 30 years on record. The heaviest was 1890, with 6.
In 1988, 6 officers in DC were killed feloniously, the 37th heaviest of 159 years on record. The heaviest was 1922, with 20.
In 1988, 97 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 55th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1988, 105 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 58th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Dean was 34. Of the 23 killed feloniously at United States Department of the Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services whose age is recorded, half were between 28.5 and 37.5; the middle age was 31. Dean had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 2 years.
Dean was 34. Of the 580 killed feloniously in DC whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 44; the middle age was 36. Dean had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Dean was 34. Of the 14,215 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Dean had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Dean was 34. Of the 15,849 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Dean had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
September holds 11.1% of these deaths at United States Department of the Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services; December holds the most, 26.7%. Saturdays: 22.2%.
September holds 7.4% of these deaths in DC; July holds the most, 11.7%. Saturdays: 13%.
September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.
September holds 8.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Saturdays: 16.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 86.5% of all 52 deaths at United States Department of the Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 15.6% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53.1% of all 1,419 deaths in DC, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 10.5% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.2% of all 27,543 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,910 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.3% of these deaths.
His people
United States Department of the Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services has 52 officers remembered here, Dean among them.
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Chin Chi Kee Jan 10, 1852
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Andrew J. Bolon
Sep 25, 1855
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Benjamin Franklin Jones Sep 20, 1876
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Culpepper Cobert Dec 7, 1878
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John Green Dec 25, 1878
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John R. Boston Jul 20, 1881
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Joe Barnett Jul 30, 1882
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Sam Scott Jul 30, 1882
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Leander Brown Aug 7, 1882
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Henry McGill Nov 3, 1883
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Frank West
Dec 17, 1886
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Jack Candy
Jan 28, 1888
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Medley Hair Jan 28, 1888
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Paul Akicitah Dec 15, 1890
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John Armstrong Dec 15, 1890
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David Hawkman Dec 15, 1890
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James Little Eagle Dec 15, 1890
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Charles Shavehead Dec 16, 1890
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Henry Bullhead
Dec 19, 1890
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Armstead Homer May 16, 1891
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Sequoyah Houston
Jun 17, 1894
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Isaac Walkingstick
Jul 29, 1894
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Robert Marshal Sep 10, 1894
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John Red Horse Nov 16, 1894
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James T. Musgrove Jun 3, 1895
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Joe Big Knife Oct 22, 1895
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Charles Proctor Aug 10, 1896
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Jefferson Davis Surratt
Dec 5, 1900
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Cub Burney Jul 17, 1901
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Dick Bullard Jan 4, 1902
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W. M. Russell Dec 24, 1904
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Ben C. Collins
Aug 1, 1906
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Frank Horn Cloud
Mar 10, 1910
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Robert Leo Bowman
Sep 19, 1912
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William Miller May 4, 1919
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Henry Oats
Feb 6, 1925
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Aaron Harrison Scott Jun 22, 1925
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Oscar E. Olson Oct 26, 1930
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Nathan Norman Bear Jul 14, 1960
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George Comes At Night Apr 15, 1962
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Alan L. St. Clair Oct 3, 1965
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Adolph Frederick Bush
Feb 19, 1967
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Phillip Nick Lopez Apr 1, 1975
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Milburn Williamson
Dec 28, 1976
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Leroy Andrew Pine, Jr. Jul 23, 1988
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Dean Martin James
Sep 17, 1988
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Terry Spotted Wolf, Sr. Sep 20, 1988
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Kevin Tilman Lewis
Feb 4, 1993
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Michael Grant Miller
Aug 28, 1995
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Jack Lee Spencer, Sr.
Sep 5, 1998
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Creighton Travis Spencer
Mar 25, 2001
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Joshua Yazzie
Jun 7, 2010
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 20-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
51 officers from United States Department of the Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.







