Prev Next

Patrolman

James Joseph Kelly

New York City Police Department — New York, NY

The 1918 Influenza Pandemic → Illness

End of Watch November 17, 1918

Age 37

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

The Vigil Panel 81 · Column 4 · Line 19 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Also Remembered Department 1,221

Incident

Patrolman James Kelly died as a result of complications of influenza while in the performance of his assigned duties during the Influenza Pandemic.

In August 1918, the first cases of influenza were reported in New York City, resulting in fewer than 31,600 deaths from the fall of 1918 until the final fourth wave in April 1920. The New York City Police Department's response to the pandemic was to enforce the health laws, including wearing masks and restricting large gatherings at churches, schools, theatres, and patrolling hot spots and quarantine zones.

Patrolman Kelly served with the New York City Police Department for 12 years and was assigned to the 116th Police Precinct. He was survived by his wife and five children. His youngest daughter succumbed to influenza two days after her father.

He is buried at Saint John's Cemetery and Mausoleum in Middle Village, New York, with his daughter.

Effects of the 1918-1920 Influenza Pandemic on Law EnforcementAlso known as "Spanish Flu" or "LaGrippe," the Influenza Pandemic of 1918 to early 1920, infected an estimated 500 million people worldwide—about one-third of the planet’s population—and killed approximately 675,000 Americans. The effect of the influenza epidemic in the United States was so dire that the average life span in the U.S. fell by twelve years. The four waves of the flu began in March 1918 and ended in April 1920. Many officers contracted this virus due to the requirements of their job. The names of every officer who died in the line of duty from the Influenza Pandemic will likely never be known. Still, ODMP researchers continue to uncover new cases as part of our mission never to forget the fallen. Please click here to view ODMP's Influenza memorial, listing all known fallen officers from the pandemic.

Also known as "Spanish Flu" or "LaGrippe," the Influenza Pandemic of 1918 to early 1920, infected an estimated 500 million people worldwide—about one-third of the planet’s population—and killed approximately 675,000 Americans. The effect of the influenza epidemic in the United States was so dire that the average life span in the U.S. fell by twelve years. The four waves of the flu began in March 1918 and ended in April 1920. Many officers contracted this virus due to the requirements of their job.

The names of every officer who died in the line of duty from the Influenza Pandemic will likely never be known. Still, ODMP researchers continue to uncover new cases as part of our mission never to forget the fallen.

Please click here to view ODMP's Influenza memorial, listing all known fallen officers from the pandemic.

Effects of the 1918-1920 Influenza Pandemic on Law Enforcement

The 1918 Influenza Pandemic

Patrolman James Joseph Kelly died on November 17, 1918 of influenza contracted in the line of duty. He was 37.

He is one of 201 officers honored here, and one of 42 at New York City Police Department.

The influenza pandemic of 1918 killed more people worldwide than the war that preceded it. Police officers worked it without vaccines, without antibiotics, and often without masks, enforcing quarantines, transporting the sick, and standing posts in cities where the dead outpaced the undertakers.

They caught it doing the job. There was no treatment to give them.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: neuraspine_01krbxtq6kffhxperyg92wvb0g
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew James. Claim this record.

Also honored at requiem.nw. One record, 2 gates. James is one person.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

No vaccine, no antibiotics, and you stood the post anyway.
Patrolman Kelly gave the New York City Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Kelly.

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

Agency

Department New York City Police Department

Type Police Department

Location New York, NY

Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 17, 1918

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

Age 37

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Illness

Cause Detail Influenza Pandemic

The Sacrifice · Illness

James is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% 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 1918, 226 officers in the United States were lost to illness, the 3rd heaviest of 108 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 564.

Every year on record · United States

Who

James was 37. Of the 1,996 lost to illness in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 42 and 58; the middle age was 51. James had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.