Michael Hardy James

Colorado State Patrol — Lakewood, CO

Felonious

End of Watch December 18, 1975

Age 32

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 116 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 29

Incident

Patrolman Michael James was shot and killed with his own service weapon while making a traffic stop on U.S. 24, near Limon. The man he had stopped was a career criminal. While calling in the suspect's identification the man attacked him and gained control of his service weapon. The subject then shot him, left him on the side of the roadway, and disabled his patrol car before fleeing. A passing trucker reported the incident and called for help, but Patrolman James succumbed to his injuries before backup officers arrived. The subject, 27, was apprehended several hours later. He was convicted of second degree murder, robbery, and possession of drugs. Because he was a habitual criminal he received a life term for each conviction. Patrolman James had served with the Colorado State Patrol for over four years. He was survived by his wife and two sons. One of his sons went on to serve as a trooper with the Colorado State Patrol.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CO-8B35E500
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.
Patrolman James gave the Colorado State Patrol 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Colorado. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman James.

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

Agency

Department Colorado State Patrol

Type Highway Patrol

Location Lakewood, CO

Platform Identity chp.co.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 18, 1975

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 32

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Patrolman Michael Hardy James 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 CO, 235 of 360 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.3% of this state's fallen. That is 65.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Colorado State Patrol, 11 of 30 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 36.7% of this agency's fallen.

Colorado State Patrol

of 30 officers

36.7% Felonious

CO — Statewide

235

of 360 officers

65.3% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious