Rankin County Sheriff's Department, Mississippi
End of Watch: Thursday, February 6, 1986
Age: 56
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: February 6, 1986
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Deputy Travis Biddle was shot and killed with his own weapon while transporting three inmates to the state penitentiary.
The three prisoners were cuffed and belted at the waist with a "D" ring holding the cuffs to the belt. One of the inmates had hidden a razor blade in his bible and cut the cuffs from the belt. He then reached over the back of the seat and pulled Deputy Biddle into the back seat. Another prisoner had also cut his cuffs from the belt, grabbed Deputy Biddle's service revolver and shot him.
Both prisoners were convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.
As a result of Deputy Biddle's murder, legislation was passed requiring all officers transporting prisoners to the state penitentiary to have protective screens between them and the prisoners.
Deputy Biddle is survived by his wife.