James Gatzounas

Holyoke Police Department — Holyoke, MA

Veteran → Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch January 1, 1977

Age 29

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo

The Vigil Panel 118 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 5

Incident

Patrol Officer James Gatzounas died after being assaulted as he and other officers responded to a fight at a New Year's Eve street party.

As Officer Gatzounas attempted to place one of the suspects under arrest, he was repeatedly kicked and punched, and he went into cardiac arrest. Another officer suffered head injuries.

Two suspects, ages 19 and 17, were charged with first-degree murder. When Officer Gatzounas' autopsy revealed he died of cardiac arrest instead of injuries from the beating, the charges were reduced to manslaughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MA-40EA2080
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 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.
Patrol Officer Gatzounas gave the Holyoke Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Holyoke community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Holyoke Police Department

Type Other

Location Holyoke, Hampden County, MA

Platform Identity hpd.hampden.ma.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 1, 1977

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo

Age 29

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Military Service

James Gatzounas served in the U.S. Army (1968â1970) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrol Officer James Gatzounas 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 MA, 199 of 469 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.4% of this state's fallen. That is 42.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Holyoke Police Department, 2 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.

Holyoke Police Department

of 6 officers

33.3% Felonious

MA — Statewide

199

of 469 officers

42.4% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious