Cheyenne County Sheriff's Office, Nebraska
End of Watch: Saturday, February 22, 1930
Age: 54
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: February 20, 1930
Weapon Used: Handgun; .32 caliber
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Sheriff James Nelson was shot and killed while looking for a state mental hospital escapee who had just forced his father at gunpoint to withdraw $600 from a bank in Sidney.
Sheriff Nelson and his deputy stopped the subject in Sidney. As Sheriff Nelson exited the patrol car he was shot in the head. The man then shot and wounded the deputy before fleeing. The man was shot and killed after being located by a posse several hours later.
Sheriff Nelson was survived by his wife and six children.