Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman James Towns succumbed to shotgun wounds sustained 11 days earlier while on duty. He was struck by a shotgun blast as he walked out the front door of a local tavern at 318 Madison Street as he and another officer were conducting routine checks at 3:45 am. Witnesses said the blast came from a car occupied by two men as they drove by. Patrolman Towns had served with the Brooklyn Police Department for 20 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-6C5E4D3C- 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
20 years. You could have gone home.
Patrolman Towns gave the Brooklyn Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Brooklyn community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Towns.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman James Carlton Towns 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 IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 9.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Brooklyn Police Dept., 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Carlton Towns's cause is highlighted.
How James Carlton Towns Compares
Offender Outcome
At large
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Carlton Towns is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Carlton Towns was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Brooklyn Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
