James E. Armstrong
Agency patch
Detective Sergeant

James E. Armstrong

Metropolitan Police Department — Washington, DC
Felonious
End of Watch December 20, 1919
Age 40
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
Badge 610
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Sergeant James Armstrong succumbed to gunshot wound sustained one week earlier in Union Station after locating a suspect who had robbed a business on 14th Street, NW, and murdered the storekeeper. During the arrest attempt the man shot Sergeant Armstrong three times at close range. Although mortally wounded, Sergeant Armstrong was able to subdue the suspect long enough for other officers to arrest him. The killer was sentenced to death for Sergeant Armstrong's murder and subsequently executed on March 17th, 1922. Sergeant Armstrong had served with the Metropolitan Police Department for 16 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Detective Sergeant Armstrong gave the Metropolitan Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Armstrong.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity mpdc.dc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 20, 1919
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
Age 40
Badge Number 610
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.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1919, 212 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 7th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 40. 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 16 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. Saturdays: 16.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

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
V

His people

Metropolitan Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, James among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective Sergeant James E. Armstrong

Metropolitan Police Department · End of Watch December 20, 1919

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 21-E

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