Roll of Honor

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Detective

John Adams James

Cambria County District Attorney's Office — Ebensburg, PA

Felonious

End of Watch August 31, 1923

Age 57

The Vigil Panel 45 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Detective John James and Special Officer Joseph Abrahams, of the Johnstown Police Department, were shot and killed during a riot in the city's Rosedale section. Two officers from the Johnstown Police Department also died as a result of wounds sustained during the riot. Detective Otto Nukem died on September 12, 1923, and Captain Otto Fink died on November 2, 1923. The officers were attempting to stop a disturbance involving several men when one, crazed from drinking moonshine, opened fire with a revolver. Other officers arriving on the scene shot and killed the suspect.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-DC680B31
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective James served with the Cambria County District Attorney's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Ebensburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective James.

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

Agency

Department Cambria County District Attorney's Office

Type Other

Location Ebensburg, Cambria County, PA

Platform Identity ccdaoda.cambria.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 31, 1923

Age 57

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Detective John Adams James is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,587 officers honored here.

In PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.6 percentage points below the national rate of 53.9%.

Cambria County District Attorney's Office

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

PA — Statewide

597

of 1,261 officers

47.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,559

of 32,587 officers

53.9% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

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

Felonious

17,559 (53.9%)

Accident

10,095 (31%)

Illness

3,037 (9.3%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

334 (1%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

How John Adams James Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Adams James is highlighted in Aug.

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. John Adams James was killed by handgun.

Handgun

3,684

Gun

3,592

Gun; Unknown type

1,492

Shotgun

1,109

Rifle

935

Officer's handgun

909