James N. Whittington
Agency patch
Police Officer

James N. Whittington

Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch October 30, 1982
Age 42
Badge 8002
The Vigil Panel 126 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer James Whittington was shot and killed when he attempted to arrest an armed suspect while off-duty. Officer Whittington was off duty and getting a hair cut inside a barber shop when he was informed that there was a man with a gun outside having an argument with a woman. Officer Whittington exited the barber shop and attempted to apprehend the subject. When the man fled, Officer Whittington chased him in his car and caught up with him in front of a New York City Housing Development on Dumont Avenue in Brooklyn. When Officer Whittington attempted to take the man into custody, there was a struggle during which the man was able to gain control of Officer Whittington's weapon. The subject fired five shots, fatally wounding Officer Whittington, then fled across the street. He was later apprehended. On January 5, 1984, the suspect, 24, was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 12 to 25 years. In an unrelated case he was sentenced to 20 years to life for the attempted murder of a Queens detective on August 3, 1982. He had a long criminal record. Most of his convictions were for resisting arrest. The judge referred to him as a very violent and dangerous man. He has a parole hearing in December of 2022. Officer Whittington was survived by his wife and two children. He was assigned to the Brooklyn North Field Internal Affairs Unit.

Survivors

Officer Whittington was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-0700BD44
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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Whittington served with the New York City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Whittington.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location New York, NY
Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 30, 1982
Age 42
Badge Number 8002
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Military Service

James N. Whittington served in the U.S. Army (1963–1966) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Police Officer James N. Whittington 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
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James N. Whittington's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How James N. Whittington Compares

Age at Death
42
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James N. Whittington is highlighted in Oct.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James N. Whittington was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Military Service

James N. Whittington served in the U.S. Army (1963–1966) before joining law enforcement.

Visit James N. Whittington’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.