Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman James Crofton was shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance at a home at 175 St. Andrew Street.
He was at his nearby home when he was alerted to the screams of a woman calling for police. He went to the woman's aid, where he discovered that the woman's husband had struck their child with a cane. The subject ran upstairs as Patrolman Crofton attempted to arrest the man. As Patrolman Crofton climbed the stairs in pursuit, the man opened fire, mortally wounding him.
Patrolman Crofton was taken to his home, where he died a short time later.
Patrolman Crofton was a U.S. Army Veteran, having served as a private at Fort Smith, Arkansas, in 1851 and 1852.
One of his grandchildren, Robert J. Cambias, Jr., later became a New Orleans police officer and was murdered in the line of duty on October 18th, 1907.
Survivors
He was survived by five children and two brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-LA-D10A84FA- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Crofton served with the New Orleans Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the New Orleans community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
James Crofton served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman James Crofton is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In LA, 364 of 595 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.2% of this state's fallen. That is 7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At New Orleans Police Department, 86 of 128 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 67.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Crofton's cause is highlighted.
How James Crofton Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Crofton is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
127 officers from New Orleans Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
