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Special Deputy Marshal

John Sloan

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service — Washington, DC
Felonious
United States flag District of Columbia flag
End of Watch May 4, 1913
Age 37
The Vigil Panel 27 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 312

Incident

Special Deputy Marshal John Sloan and Special Deputy Marshal Marion Ramey were shot and killed in Dickenson County, Virginia, just over the border with Kentucky. They had been informed of the location of a still by the sister of the still's owner. Along with a third officer, they had gone and destroyed the still when they were ambushed. A prolonged shootout took place in which hundreds of shots were fired. Deputy Marshal Sloan and Deputy Marshal Ramey were both killed. The wounded marshal crawled approximately five miles down a mountain, where he was located. Several suspects were arrested the following year. Because it was unknown which state the shooting had taken place in, a special commission was established by Virginia and Kentucky to identify to re-establish the border between the two states. It was determined that the murders had occurred in Dickenson County, Virginia. Both men were convicted of murder and were sentenced to life in prison in the Virginia Penitentiary.

Survivors

Special Deputy Sloan was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Deputy Marshal Sloan served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Deputy Marshal Sloan.

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

Agency

Department United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service
Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usms.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 4, 1913
Age 37
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

John is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1913, 133 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 33rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 37. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

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
V

His people

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service has at least 120 officers remembered here, John among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Special Deputy Marshal John Sloan

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service · End of Watch May 4, 1913

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 7-E

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