Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant James Knight was shot and killed when he and another officer attempted to stop a wrong-way vehicle in the 400 block of 12th Street.
As Sergeant Knight stepped from his car, the occupants of the other vehicle opened fire, striking him in the head. The other officer returned fire. It was later determined that the occupants of the car had just been involved in a robbery of silk valued at $40,000.
Six men were later apprehended. All six were convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 30 years. On January 23, 1933, all six were awarded new trials and released on bail when the Errors Court ruled they were wrongly convicted. One was shot and killed by an unknown assailant on October 25, 1934.
Sergeant Knight was survived by his wife and two daughters.
Survivors
Sergeant Knight was survived by his wife and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-0A165E89- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Knight gave the Union City Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Union City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Knight.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant James Francis Knight 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 NJ, 229 of 646 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.4% of this state's fallen. That is 35.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Union City Police Department, 4 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Francis Knight's cause is highlighted.
How James Francis Knight Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Francis Knight is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Francis Knight was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Union City Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
