James M. Masterson

New York City Police Department — New York, NY

Felonious

End of Watch January 31, 1927

Age 31

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Badge 10669

The Vigil Panel 52 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1,236

Incident

Patrolman James Masterson was shot and killed when he interrupted a robbery in progress. Patrolman Masterson had been meeting with an informant at a restaurant on West 103rd Street in Manhattan. As he was leaving, two suspects attempted to rob the restaurant. Patrolman Masterson went back inside and was shot. He was transported to Knickerbocker Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. The suspects fled to upstate New York, where they engaged officers in a shootout on February 8, 1928. One of the suspects was shot and killed, and the second, who possessed Patrolman Masterson's revolver and shield, was arrested. That suspect was executed in the electric chair at Sing Sing Prison on December 16, 1928. Patrolman Masterson had served with the New York City Police Department for five years and was assigned to the Detective Division. His mother survived him. Patrolman Masterson was posthumously awarded the Department's Medal of Honor.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-A3A09182
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Masterson gave the New York City Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Masterson.

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

Agency

Department New York City Police Department

Location New York, NY

Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 31, 1927

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Age 31

Badge Number 10669

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Executed in 1928

Patrolman James M. Masterson is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In NY, 754 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.1% of this state's fallen. That is 19.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At New York City Police Department, 382 of 1237 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 30.9% of this agency's fallen.

New York City Police Department

382

of 1,237 officers

30.9% Felonious

NY — Statewide

754

of 2,147 officers

35.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious