Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer James Gordon was shot and killed by a Prince George's County police officer in a case of mistaken identity. He had returned to his home in 10600 block of Mt. Lubentia Way in Largo, Maryland, when he discovered an open window and suspected that a burglar might be inside. As Officer Gordon walked through the house with his gun drawn, a Prince George's County police officer arrived on the scene because a neighbor had reported seeing a suspicious person enter the home. In a tragic case of mistaken identity, the responding officer shot and killed Officer Gordon when he turned toward him with his gun in hand. Officer Gordon was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the Metropolitan Police Department for 17 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-DC-BB8F1392- 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.
Officer Gordon gave the Metropolitan Police Department 17 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 L. Gordon served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Officer James L. Gordon 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 DC, 454 of 1,419 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 32% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Metropolitan Police Department, 48 of 131 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 36.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James L. Gordon's cause is highlighted.
How James L. Gordon Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. James L. Gordon is highlighted in Dec.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
130 officers from Metropolitan Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
