Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Sergeant James Roche suffered a fatal heart attack as he and other officers attempted to control a crazed man who had entered the United States Capitol without permission. Sergeant Roche was a U.S. Army veteran who had served with the Metropolitan Police Department for 20 years and had been on a temporary protective assignment at the United States Capitol for six months at the time of his death. During his career, he received 43 commendations. He was survived by his wife. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-DC-A1087AB8- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Detective Sergeant Roche gave the Metropolitan Police Department 20 years.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
James Roche served in the Army (1942â1945) before joining law enforcement.
Detective Sergeant James Roche is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In DC, 71 of 1,419 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 5% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 4%.
At Metropolitan Police Department, 5 of 131 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 3.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Cardiac compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Roche's cause is highlighted.
How James Roche Compares
Offender Outcome
Not available
When Cardiac Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Cardiac deaths across the full memorial record. James Roche is highlighted in Jun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
130 officers from Metropolitan Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
