James North

New York City Police Department — New York, NY

Felonious

End of Watch August 21, 1885

Age 26

The Vigil Panel 8 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1,236

Incident

Patrolman James North was stabbed to death by a disorderly male on his post.

Patrolman North was walking on Wall Street in Manhattan at approximately 11:45 p.m. when he observed a disorderly man who had been drinking and harassing females at the corner of Wall Street and Broadway. The subject agreed to behave himself before he was sent on his way. When Patrolman North turned his back and walked away, the suspect doubled back and stabbed Patrolman North in the back.

A doctor who witnessed the incident attended to Patrolman North, while two other patrolmen chased and apprehended the fleeing suspect. As the doctor was attending to Patrolman North, he spoke his last words: "My poor wife and children."

The suspect, charged with first-degree murder, was later convicted. He was sentenced to life in prison.

Patrolman North was assigned to the 1st precinct.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-10025DF9
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

141 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman North served with the New York Municipal Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department New York City Police Department

Type Police Department

Location New York, NY

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

Service Record

End of Watch August 21, 1885

Age 26

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Stabbed

Weapon Edged weapon; Knife

Patrolman James North 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 NY, 728 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.9% of this state's fallen. That is 33.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At New York City Police Department, 365 of 1237 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 29.5% of this agency's fallen.

New York City Police Department

365

of 1,237 officers

29.5% Felonious

NY — Statewide

728

of 2,147 officers

33.9% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious