Harney County Sheriff's Office, Oregon
End of Watch Sunday, October 4, 1903
Add to My HeroesJohn G. Saxton
Special Deputy John Saxton and Special Deputy Jack West were shot and killed at a ranch in Wild Horse Valley, approximately 35 miles south of Burns, Oregon.
They had gone to the ranch to arrest a man who was wanted in Douglas County for burglary. As they approached the ranchhouse the man opened fire on them with a shotgun, striking Deputy West. The man then entered the home through a window. Deputy Saxton entered the home and the two exchanged shots through a wall. The subject fled to the home's second floor after shooting Deputy Saxton in the shoulder.
Despite his wounds, Deputy Saxton went back outside and tended to Deputy West. He had gone to a nearby spring twice to bring Deputy West water. As he turned away to make a third trip the man again opened fire from the home, fatally wounding him.
The subject fled the state but was arrested in Idaho Falls, Idaho, but was arrested on October 26th, 1903. He was extradited back to Oregon to face trial. He was convicted of both murders, sentenced to death, and hanged at the Oregon State Penitentiary on January 29th, 1904.
Bio
- Age 44
- Tour Not available
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Gun; Unknown type
- Offender Executed in 1904
Most Recent Reflection
View all 4 ReflectionsNo passage of time will ever erase your service and sacrifice. Rest in peace always.
Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police (Retired)
October 4, 2020
Recent LODD Deaths

Deputy Sheriff Adam Gibson
Sacramento County Sheriff's Department, CA
EOW: January 18, 2021

Police Officer Brandon Stalker
Toledo Police Department, OH
EOW: January 18, 2021

Police Officer Jay Hughes
Kalispel Tribal Police Department, TR
EOW: January 6, 2021

Corporal Christine Peters
Greenbelt Police Department, MD
EOW: January 14, 2021

Conservation Officer Steven Reighard
Iowa Department of Natural Resources, IA
EOW: January 8, 2021

Police Officer Melton "Fox" Gore
Horry County Police Department, SC
EOW: January 12, 2021

Sergeant Frederick H. "Butch" Cameron
Fairfax County Sheriff's Office, VA
EOW: January 12, 2021

Officer Troy Allen Adkins
United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - Office of Field Operations, US
EOW: December 31, 2020

Unit Team Supervisor Gabe Morales
Kansas Department of Corrections, KS
EOW: December 22, 2020