Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police James Knick was shot and killed after stopping a car for speeding on U.S. 23 shortly before 4:00 p.m. He was unaware it had been reported stolen. The driver, who was a parolee, had just beaten a lady in Atlanta and was driving her car. When Chief Knick approached the vehicle, the driver exited and shot him five times with a .32 caliber handgun, fatally wounding Chief Knick. The suspect was shot and killed in Hall County by other officers after he stole another car and was run off the road in a chase following a vehicle pursuit. Chief Knick was a United States Army World War II veteran and had served with the Suwanee Police Department for six years. He had previously served with the Buford Police Department for two years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-3AC16E78- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew James. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
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.
Chief of Police Knick gave the Suwanee Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Suwanee 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 Ivan Knick, Sr. served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Chief of Police James Ivan Knick, Sr. 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 GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Ivan Knick, Sr.'s cause is highlighted.
How James Ivan Knick, Sr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Ivan Knick, Sr. is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Ivan Knick, Sr. was killed by handgun; .32 caliber.