James E. Travis

Atlanta Police Department — Atlanta, GA

Felonious

End of Watch February 24, 1922

Tour of Duty

The Vigil Panel 42 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 87

Incident

Special Officer James Travis succumbed to wounds sustained the previous night when he was shot with his own service weapon while attempting to arrest a subject near his home on the 400 block of Ponce de Leon Avenue. Officer Travis was off duty but went to investigate a disturbance at a store down the street from his home. As a result he attempted to arrest one of the men involved. After placing his gun back in its holster and handcuffing the suspect, the subject was able to grab the officer's service revolver and shot him twice. The shooting was witnessed by Officer Travis' wife, who was standing on their front porch. The suspect fled the scene after the shooting. Officer Travis was transported to Grady Hospital where he died the following evening. The suspect was apprehended in Tifton on October 24, 1935. Officer Travis had been appointed as a special officer until the next meeting of the police election board.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-GA-ECB79579
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.
Special Officer Travis served with the Atlanta Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Atlanta community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Officer Travis.

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

Agency

Department Atlanta Police Department

Location Atlanta, GA

Platform Identity apd.fulton.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 24, 1922

Tour of Duty

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Apprehended

Special Officer James E. Travis 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 GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Atlanta Police Department, 58 of 88 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.9% of this agency's fallen.

Atlanta Police Department

of 88 officers

65.9% Felonious

GA — Statewide

548

of 903 officers

60.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious