James E. Armstrong

Metropolitan Police Department — Washington, DC

Felonious

End of Watch December 20, 1919

Age 40

Tour of Duty 16 yrs

Badge 610

The Vigil Panel 38 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 130

Incident

Detective Sergeant James Armstrong succumbed to gunshot wound sustained one week earlier in Union Station after locating a suspect who had robbed a business on 14th Street, NW, and murdered the storekeeper. During the arrest attempt the man shot Sergeant Armstrong three times at close range. Although mortally wounded, Sergeant Armstrong was able to subdue the suspect long enough for other officers to arrest him. The killer was sentenced to death for Sergeant Armstrong's murder and subsequently executed on March 17th, 1922. Sergeant Armstrong had served with the Metropolitan Police Department for 16 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-DC-F5B03DD6
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Sergeant Armstrong gave the Metropolitan Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Armstrong.

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

Agency

Department Metropolitan Police Department

Location Washington, DC

Platform Identity mpdc.dc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 20, 1919

Tour of Duty 16 yrs

Age 40

Badge Number 610

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Executed in 1922

Detective Sergeant James E. Armstrong is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Metropolitan Police Department, 70 of 131 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.4% of this agency's fallen.

Metropolitan Police Department

of 131 officers

53.4% Felonious

DC — Statewide

754

of 1,419 officers

53.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious