Roll of Honor
Incident
Inspector Lakin left Bodlewell Lane Police Station about 9.30am after the change of watch and stood at the steps of the ferryboat landing as was his habit. After he failed to return officers made a search and, about 2:00pm, his body was found floating in the river a few yards from the steps. It was believed he had slipped and drowned.
The Coroner ruled out suicide after hearing evidence that one of the Constables who found his body noted a cut and abrasion above his left eye suggesting he slipped, suffered the injury and entered the water.
He was survived by his adult children.
Survivors
He was survived by his adult children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-GB-RWP-FCAEA6C6- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 8, 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.
Inspector Lakin served with the River Wear Police.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Inspector Lakin.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Inspector James Lakin is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In ENG, 1,349 of 2,827 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 47.7% of this state's fallen. That is 16.7 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At River Wear Police, 7 of 8 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 87.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Lakin's cause is highlighted.
How James Lakin Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. James Lakin is highlighted in Feb.
Others Who Wore This Badge
7 officers from River Wear Police are honored on badge.nw.
