Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer James Helms was shot and killed while investigating the sounds of an explosion in the downtown area at 0310 hours. He went to check the area and located at least one suspect behind several buildings near Main Street. The suspect shot Officer Helms several times. Four of Officer Helms' friends who were helping him investigate the sound of the explosion found him on the ground holding his revolver. In 1899 a convict in Minnesota confessed to killing Officer Helms, Officers Grant and McNett of Illinois, a woman in Geneva, Illinois and shooting a policeman in Guide Rock, Nebraska. Officer Helms was survived by his wife. He is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Osawatomie, Kansas.
Survivors
Officer Helms was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KS-20BE338D- 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
131 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Officer Helms served with the Osawatomie Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Osawatomie community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer James H. Helms 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 KS, 237 of 335 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.7% of this state's fallen. That is 70.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Osawatomie Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James H. Helms's cause is highlighted.
How James H. Helms Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James H. Helms is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James H. Helms was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Osawatomie Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
