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Patrolman

James P. Lewis

San Diego Police Department — San Diego, CA

Felonious

End of Watch December 29, 1970

Age 23

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Badge 995

The Vigil Panel 236 · Column 4 · Line 9 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Department 37

Incident

Patrolman James Lewis was shot and killed while off duty when identified himself as a police officer. He and two other officers had gone to a bar at 3048 Midway Drive when they noticed several individuals giving the doorman a hard time. Patrolman Lewis identified himself as an officer and escorted the men to their car to get identification. Instead, one of the men produced a handgun and shot Patrolman Lewis. Although mortally wounded, he was able to return fire, striking the vehicle twice. The bullet holes in the car helped identify the suspects when the car was found later eight blocks from a motel where they were arrested. Two Michigan brothers with long criminal records in and around Detroit were apprehended. On February 10, 1971, in the county jail, the 22-year-old along with another prisoner strangled to death a notorious California serial killer known as the "Candle Light Killer." On April 24, 1971, he was convicted of second-degree murder and two counts of armed robbery, and sentenced to life. Two months later he was convicted of the serial killer's murder and sentenced to another life term. His brother was convicted of accessory to murder and sentenced to one to five years. Patrolman Lewis had served with the San Diego Police Department for two years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and daughter.

In Our Keeping

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Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Lewis gave the San Diego Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Diego community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Lewis.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department San Diego Police Department

Type Other

Location San Diego, San Diego County, CA

Platform Identity sdpd.sandiego.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 29, 1970

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 23

Badge Number 995

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

James is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1970, 138 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 29th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

James was 23. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. James had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded