Decatur County Sheriff's Office, Georgia
End of Watch: Tuesday, October 28, 1980
Age: 56
Tour of Duty: 16 years
Badge Number: 685-C
Cause of Death: Stabbed
Date of Incident: October 28, 1980
Weapon Used: Edged weapon; Knife
Suspect Info: Committed
Lieutenant James West was stabbed to death by a female mental patient.
The woman's family had requested assistance in transporting her to a state mental hospital and Lieutenant West responded to the home. The woman was committed to a state hospital.
Lieutenant West had served with the Decatur County Sheriff's Office for 16 years. He is survived by his wife and two children.