James Dowling
Agency patch
Patrolman

James Dowling

Accident
End of Watch December 24, 1935
Age 61
Tour of Duty 31 yrs 6 mo
Badge 2538
The Vigil Panel 71 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman James Dowling was struck and killed by a vehicle while on his post. Patrolman Dowling was walking his post on 1st Avenue near 119th Street when he was struck and killed by a delivery truck. The driver fled the scene but turned himself in later that night. Patrolman Dowling had served with the New York City Police Department for 31 and a half years, assigned to the 25th Precinct.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, Anne, and his sons, James Jr.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-DF554A31
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.

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

31 years. You could have gone home.
Patrolman Dowling gave the New York City Police Department 31 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Dowling.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location New York, NY
Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 24, 1935
Tour of Duty 31 yrs 6 mo
Age 61
Badge Number 2538
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Patrolman James Dowling is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In NY, 645 of 2,147 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30% of this state's fallen. That is 30 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At New York City Police Department, 283 of 1237 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 22.9% of this agency's fallen.

New York City Police Department
283
of 1,237 officers
22.9% Accident
NY — Statewide
645
of 2,147 officers
30% Accident
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Dowling's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How James Dowling Compares

Age at Death
61
This officer
Avg for Accident: 38.1 years
Years of Service
31.5
This officer
Avg for Accident: 9.1 years

When Accident Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. James Dowling is highlighted in Dec.

Jan
820
Feb
730
Mar
748
Apr
708
May
848
Jun
797
Jul
899
Aug
938
Sep
913
Oct
925
Nov
872
Dec
897

Incident Location