Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, Arizona
End of Watch Wednesday, March 1, 1978
Add to My HeroesJames L. Epp
Reserve Deputy James Epp drowned while attempting to save two women trapped in a car when a river flooded onto a road.
Deputy Epp and a civilian who were trying to help were swept away by the river as they attempted to attach a chain to the car. His body was found one mile downstream. The civilian survived.
Deputy Epp had served with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office for nearly 20 years and was awarded the Arizona Medal of Valor posthumously in May 1978. He volunteered with MCSO for nearly 20 years prior to his death. He is survived by his wife and child.
Bio
- Age 42
- Tour 19 years, 9 months
- Badge Jeep 616
Incident Details
- Cause Drowned
Most Recent Reflection
View all 23 ReflectionsAnother 11 years have gone by since my last post....I won't forget you Jim.
Reserve Deputy Dorwin Douglass
MCSO Reserve Deputy Lake Patrol L51
October 9, 2019
Recent LODD Deaths

Master Police Officer Christine Peters
Greenbelt Police Department, MD
EOW: January 14, 2021

Conservation Officer Steven Reighard
Iowa Department of Natural Resources, IA
EOW: January 8, 2021

Police Officer Melton "Fox" Gore
Horry County Police Department, SC
EOW: January 12, 2021

Sergeant Frederick H. "Butch" Cameron
Fairfax County Sheriff's Office, VA
EOW: January 12, 2021

Officer Troy Allen Adkins
United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - Office of Field Operations, US
EOW: December 31, 2020

Unit Team Supervisor Gabe Morales
Kansas Department of Corrections, KS
EOW: December 22, 2020

Lieutenant William Lyle Gardner
Denver City Police Department, TX
EOW: January 7, 2021

Deputy Sheriff Jane Alice Ash
Effingham County Sheriff's Office, GA
EOW: December 16, 2020

Sergeant Randall Sims
Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Correctional Institutions Division, TX
EOW: January 3, 2021