Roll of Honor
James T. Sackett, Sr.
Incident
Police Officer James Sackett was shot and killed by two suspects after responding to an emergency call at 859 Hague Avenue. When he arrived, he was ambushed from across the street by a suspect with a high-powered rifle. The phone call was a false emergency call with the intention of killing a law enforcement officer. Two suspects associated with the Black Panthers were originally questioned, but no charges were immediately filed due to a lack of evidence. The two suspects were finally arrested and charged with Officer Sackett's murder in January 2005, 35 years after the murder. Both suspects were sentenced to life in prison in 2006. In 2008, one of the suspects had his conviction overturned and was awarded a new trial. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and was released in 2010. As of 2022, the shooter is still incarcerated. Officer Sackett was a United States Air Force veteran and had served with the St. Paul Police Department for 18 months. He was survived by his wife and four children. The Black Panther Party was a black nationalist and Marxist revolutionary political and militant organization active in the United States between 1966 and 1982. Members and former members of the group were responsible for the murders of over 20 law enforcement officers and the wounding of dozens more across the nation. Please click here to visit all the law enforcement officers who have died as a result of the Black Panther Party's violent activism.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MN-4CBD642F- 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 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 Sackett gave the Saint Paul Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Saint Paul community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
James T. Sackett, Sr. served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer James T. Sackett, Sr. 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 MN, 173 of 293 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59% of this state's fallen. That is 4.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Saint Paul Police Department, 20 of 33 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James T. Sackett, Sr.'s cause is highlighted.
How James T. Sackett, Sr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James T. Sackett, Sr. is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James T. Sackett, Sr. was killed by rifle.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
32 officers from Saint Paul Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
