Sheriff James Posey, Franklin County Sheriff's Office, Mississippi

Sheriff James Posey

Franklin County Sheriff's Office, Mississippi

End of Watch Wednesday, September 29, 1982

James Posey

Sheriff James Posey was shot and killed after voluntarily taking the place of four hostages at a roadblock on Jackson Liberty Drive, at Bogue Chitto Road, in Lincoln County.

The subject had abducted a woman and her three children from Franklin County earlier in the day during an attempt to extort them. The man fired at Sheriff Posey and a Franklin County constable as they attempted to arrest him following the initial abduction.

The man was able to escape with the hostages and fled in a stolen car. Members of the Mississippi Highway Patrol setup roadblocks throughout the area, including one on Liberty Jackson Road. The vehicle came to a stop at the roadblock and Sheriff Posey was called to the scene. Upon his arrival he volunteered to exchange himself for the hostages.

Moments after the exchange the man shot Sheriff Posey in the chest as they both sat in a police car at a roadblock in Lincoln County.

After Sheriff Posey fell from the car other deputies returned fire and killed the suspect.

Deputy Posey was serving his second term as sheriff. He was survived by his wife and two teenage children.

Bio

Age 37
Tour Not available
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber
Offender Shot and killed

hostage

Most Recent Reflection

View all 40 Reflections

In Mississippi neighboring County Lines don't mean much unless your talking football or landmarks. A young boy about 12 years old can remember My Father (Lincoln Co. Deputy) returning home late during the evening (which was common) and could tell that something had disturbed him greatly. The next day our mother informed us what had happened as much as she thought we could handle or understand, to explain our fathers behavior. Sheriff Posey was a great man, that I would hear my Father refer to many times with nothing but respect. Latter in life, I became friends with Mike and Melissa, who both took after their father because they are the two best people anyone could ever meet and call friends and that doesn't happen by accident, it happens by the way you were raised. Mike and Melissa, we love you both so much, and as we get older and settle into our careers and individual life's, I will tell you every morning when I go to work, I just hope and pray that I can make a difference in someones life like your dad did with so many he came in contact with. It is honor to call you both friends.

Captain Clint Earls
Brookhaven Police Department

September 30, 2016