Roll of Honor

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Police Officer

James J. Brown

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch October 1, 1963

Age 27

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

The Vigil Panel 98 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 377

Incident

Location: New Jersey Incident Date: Friday, August 23, 1963 Weapon: Handgun Offender: Charged with murder

Police Officer James Brown was succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained five weeks earlier while attempting to breakup a fight outside of a bar on Longport-Somerspoint Boulevard, in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey.

He and his brother, who was also a Philadelphia police officer, were off duty and visiting the bar when a fight broke out between a patron and the bartender. As Officer Brown and his brother attempted to breakup the fight the patron pulled out a handgun and opened fire, striking Officer Brown in the neck.

The man was arrested by local authorities following the shooting and charged with murder following Officer Brown's death. Evidence of numerous burglaries were located in his vehicle. In 1965 he was convicted of burglaries and sentenced to 7-1/2 years in prison. In 1969 murder charges were dismissed against him because prosecutors failed to start his trial within 180 days of his arrest.

Officer Brown was a U.S Army veteran and had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for six years.

Survivors

He was survived by his parents, brother, and sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-D0220305
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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. James is one person.

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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.
Police Officer Brown gave the Philadelphia Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia 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

Department Philadelphia Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA

Platform Identity ppd.philadelphia.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 1, 1963

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Age 27

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Military Service

James J. Brown served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Police Officer James J. Brown 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 97,759 officers honored here.

In PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 47.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Philadelphia Police Department, 162 of 378 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.9% of this agency's fallen.

Philadelphia Police Department

162

of 378 officers

42.9% Felonious

PA — Statewide

597

of 1,261 officers

47.3% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious