Putnam County Sheriff's Office, West Virginia
End of Watch: Thursday, August 17, 1989
Age: 32
Tour of Duty: 9 years
Badge Number: 34
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: August 17, 1989
Weapon Used: Handgun; .357 caliber
Suspect Info: Died in prison
Deputy Sheriff Jonathan Janey was shot and killed while conducting a stakeout at a residence believed to be the target of an arson.
At approximately 1:15 am, he observed a suspect enter the house with two one-gallon jugs. Deputy Janey moved to the side of the house and observed the man inside spreading the contents of the jugs on the floor. The suspect spotted Deputy Janey and fled out of the rear of the house. Deputy Janey gave caught the subject following a short foot pursuit and put one handcuff on him.
The man then spun around and struck Deputy Janey in the head with the handcuff, pulled a .357 caliber handgun from the front of his waistband, and shot Deputy Janey twice in the chest. As Deputy Janey lay on the ground the man then shot him once more in the head.
The subject was apprehended and sentenced to life. He was denied parole in 2011 and again in 2017. He died in March 2020 while still incarcerated.
Deputy Janey had served with the Putnam County Sheriff's Office for nine years. He was survived by his parents, sister, brother, two nieces, and a nephew.
In 2018, the I-64 overpass at Cow Creek was renamed the Deputy Sheriff Jonathan Janey Memorial Bridge.