Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, Arizona
End of Watch: Wednesday, March 1, 1978
Age: 42
Tour of Duty: 19 years, 9 months
Badge Number: Jeep 616
Cause of Death: Drowned
Date of Incident: March 1, 1978
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Reserve Deputy James Epp drowned while attempting to save two women trapped in a car when the Salt River flooded the roadway at Schoolhouse Road and Grapevine Road.
Deputy Epp and a civilian who was assisting him were swept away by the river as they attempted to attach a chain to the car. His body was found one mile downstream. The civilian survived.
Deputy Epp had served with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office for nearly 20 years and was awarded the Arizona Medal of Valor posthumously in May 1978. He volunteered with the agency for nearly 20 years prior to his death. He is survived by his wife and child.