DeKalb County Police Department, Georgia
End of Watch: Saturday, February 6, 1954
Age: 48
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: February 6, 1954
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Executed in 1956
Officer James Mize was shot and killed by a suspect he had just arrested on a warrant.
When Officer Mize and his partner went to arrest the suspect he was very friendly to the officers and stated the warrant was a mistake. Because the suspect was being so nice Officer Mize's partner drove the suspect's car to the stationhouse while Officer Mize drove the suspect. While on the way to the stationhouse the suspect took Officer Mize's gun and fatally shot him.
Officer Mize's partner witnessed what had happened and ran to assist his partner but was shot and wounded as the suspect escaped. The man was later recaptured and executed by electric chair in 1956.
Officer Mize is buried in East View Cemetery, East Atlanta, DeKalb County, Georgia.