| Deputy Sheriff Travis Milton French
McDowell County Sheriff's Department
West Virginia
End of Watch: Wednesday, April 20, 1949 Biographical Info
Age: 51
Tour of Duty: 4 months
Badge Number: Not available Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Wednesday, April 20, 1949
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Shot and killed Deputy French was shot and killed with his own service weapon by a prisoner in the County Jail. Deputy French had let the man out to use the phone and, when the deputy turned his back, the man grabbed his gun and shot him. Police Officer Boss Johnson of the Welch Police Department and another officer pursued the suspect from the jail to the basement of a nearby house where a gunfight resulted. Officer Johnson and the suspect were shot and killed.
Deputy French had served with the agency for only 4 months. He was survived by his wife and ten children. Related Line of Duty Deaths | 
