Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer James Boswell was shot and killed by a man who claimed to be a DEA informant near the intersection of South Main Street and Westridge Street. Officer Boswell and his partner were on a traffic stop when the man, unrelated to the traffic stop, came up and began to knock on the officer's window. Officer Boswell rolled down the window and told the man to wait on the sidewalk. The man then began knocking on the window again and was again told to wait. The man then began banging on the roof and window a third time. Fearing the man would break the glass Officer Boswell exited the cruiser and told the man to wait down the street or he would be put in the cruiser. As he looked away to unlock the cruiser, the man pulled out a .38 caliber handgun and shot him in the head. The suspect began to run but was shot in the side by Officer Boswell's partner. The suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. The man was executed on November 19, 2002. Officer Boswell had been with the Houston Police Department for five years.
Survivors
He was survived by his parents, sister, and three brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-D599C137- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- 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.
Police Officer Boswell gave the Houston Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Boswell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer James Charles Boswell is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Houston Police Department, 84 of 117 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Charles Boswell's cause is highlighted.
How James Charles Boswell Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Charles Boswell is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Charles Boswell was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
116 officers from Houston Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
