Officer Down Memorial Page - http://www.odmp.org

Patrolman James H. Keister | Bluefield Police Department, West Virginia
Bluefield Police Department, West Virginia

Patrolman

James H. Keister

Bluefield Police Department, West Virginia

End of Watch: Friday, January 10, 1913

Biographical Info

Age:
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: January 10, 1913
Weapon Used: Shotgun
Suspect Info: Acquitted

Patrolman James Keister was shot and killed while enforcing the city's cow law. He and another officer had rounded up several cows that were roaming free and taking them to the pound.

An 18-year-old man learned that his family's cow was among those being herded to the pound and went to retrieve it. He confronted Patrolman Keister and the other officer and attempted to take the cow. After the man attempted to strike Patrolman Keister he fled to his home. Patrolman Keister followed him and as he climbed the home's front stairs the man shot him in the chest with a shotgun, killing him.

The man fled but turned himself in the following day. He claimed self defense and was tried and acquitted.