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Sheriff James T. Dana | Yuma County Sheriff's Office, Arizona
Yuma County Sheriff's Office, Arizona

Sheriff

James T. Dana

Yuma County Sheriff's Office, Arizona

End of Watch: Wednesday, September 20, 1871

Biographical Info

Age: 34
Tour of Duty: 3 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Assault
Date of Incident: September 18, 1871
Weapon Used: Edged weapon; Bow and arrow
Suspect Info: Escaped from prison

Sheriff James Dana was shot with a glass-tipped arrow while riding with a posse in search of a man who murdered a woman in Arizona City.

The posse had gone into a river bottom to arrest the man and became engaged in a battle with local Indians. Sheriff Dana died two days after being struck by the arrow. The killer was arrested and sentenced to 25 years in prison. He later escaped and was never recaptured.

Sheriff Dana had served with the Yuma County Sheriff's Office for three years. He was survived by his wife and son and is buried in Yuma Pioneer Cemetery.