Franklin County Sheriff's Office, Mississippi
End of Watch: Wednesday, September 29, 1982
Age: 37
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: September 29, 1982
Weapon Used: Handgun; .38 caliber
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Sheriff James Posey was shot and killed after voluntarily taking the place of four hostages at a roadblock on Jackson Liberty Drive, at Bogue Chitto Road, in Lincoln County.
The subject had abducted a woman and her three children from Franklin County earlier in the day during an attempt to extort them. The man fired at Sheriff Posey and a Franklin County constable as they attempted to arrest him following the initial abduction.
The man was able to escape with the hostages and fled in a stolen car. Members of the Mississippi Highway Patrol setup roadblocks throughout the area, including one on Liberty Jackson Road. The vehicle came to a stop at the roadblock and Sheriff Posey was called to the scene. Upon his arrival he volunteered to exchange himself for the hostages.
Moments after the exchange the man shot Sheriff Posey in the chest as they both sat in a police car at a roadblock in Lincoln County.
After Sheriff Posey fell from the car other deputies returned fire and killed the suspect.
Deputy Posey was serving his second term as sheriff. He was survived by his wife and two teenage children.