Conservation Officer James Lansford (Lance) Horner Jr.
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
Alabama
End of Watch: Sunday, June 22, 2003

Biographical Info
Age: 32
Tour of Duty: 6 years, 6 months
Badge Number: 508

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Drowned
Date of Incident: Sunday, June 22, 2003
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available

Officer Horner drowned while attempting to assist another officer whose boat became disabled on the Tombigbee River near the Coffeeville Lock and Dam at 1120 hours.

The officer with the disabled boat was able to tie it up to the lock. Officer Horner, who was wearing a flotation vest, and his boat were pulled underneath the churning water and pulled through the flood gates. The other officer was able to contact the lock master to call for help. Officer Horner's body was found several miles downstream of the dam.

Officer Horner had been with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries for 6.5 years, and is survived by his wife, 5-month-old son, parents, and sister.