Independence County Sheriff's Office, Arkansas
End of Watch Thursday, September 15, 1904
Add to My HeroesJeff D. Morgan
Sheriff Jefferson Morgan was shot and killed by an escaped convict while attempting to question the man on Main Street in Batesville.
The suspect had escaped from the Izard County Jail three years earlier and had fled to Iowa. The man returned to Arkansas to visit family but was recognized by citizens and the sheriff was alerted.
The sheriff located the man coming out of the City Hotel and asked him who he was. The suspect immediately began to run, pulled out a .38 caliber handgun, and shot Sheriff Morgan. A citizen who witnessed the shooting grabbed the sheriff's gun and he, along with other citizens, began to chase the suspect. The suspect became cornered in a barn and the citizens began shooting inside and threatened to burn it down.
The suspect surrendered and was charged with Sheriff Morgan's murder. He was found guilty and hung for the crime on November 25th, 1904.
Sheriff Morgan had served with the Independence County Sheriff's Department for two years and was survived by his wife.
Bio
- Age 31
- Tour 2 years
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber
- Offender Executed in 1904
Most Recent Reflection
View all 7 ReflectionsRest in peace and always know that no passage of time will ever erase your service and sacrifice.
Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police (Retired)
September 15, 2020
Recent LODD Deaths
![Segus R. Jolivette](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27106/c_2024_jolivette.jpg)
Senior Corporal Segus R. Jolivette
Lafayette Police Department, LA
EOW: July 25, 2024
![Mohamed Said](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27101/police-officer-mohamed-said.jpg)
Corporal Mohamed Said
Melvindale Police Department, MI
EOW: July 21, 2024
![Edgar Ordonez](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27100/c_edgar-ordonez.jpg)
Probationary Police Officer Edgar Ordonez
New York City Police Department, NY
EOW: July 10, 2024
![Robert William Sumner](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27096/c_robert-sumner.png)
Corporal Robert William Sumner
Oklahoma Department of Corrections, OK
EOW: July 14, 2024
![Matthew Bowen](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27095/police-officer-matthew-bowen.jpg)
Police Officer Matthew Bowen
Vacaville Police Department, CA
EOW: July 11, 2024
Deputy Sheriff Fernando Esqueda
Harris County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: July 11, 2024
![Kevin Linn Palmer](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27091/c_k._palmer.jpg)
Assistant Chief Kevin Linn Palmer
North Richland Hills Police Department, TX
EOW: May 1, 2024
![Jamieson Ritter](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27085/police-officer-jamieson-ritter.jpg)
Police Officer Jamieson Ritter
Cleveland Division of Police, OH
EOW: July 4, 2024
![William Butler, Jr.](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27084/c_butler-bill.jpg)
Deputy Sheriff William Butler, Jr.
Hillsdale County Sheriff's Office, MI
EOW: June 27, 2024