Roll of Honor

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Officer

James Wilson Means

Davenport Police Department — Davenport, IA

Cardiac Veteran

End of Watch May 17, 1883

Age 59

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

The Vigil Panel 7 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Officer James Means suffered a fatal heart attack while arresting a man who was drunk and disorderly after 7:00 a.m. on 5th Street between Perry and Brady Streets.

When Officer Means approached the subject, the man fled, but he was apprehended near the corner of Fifth Street and Perry Street. While Officer Means was walking the subject to jail on the north side of Fifth Street, the subject held onto a fence, refusing to go any further. Another struggle ensued, and Officer Means was able to get the man walking with him again. A few steps later, Officer Means fell to the ground, and the subject ran north on Brady Street.

Bystanders in the area turned Officer Means onto his back, but he was barely breathing. By the time they arrived at the police station, Officer Means had passed away.

Another officer chased after the subject and apprehended him near 6th Street.

Officer Means was a United States Civil War veteran working for the Iowa state government during the war. He had served in law enforcement for nine years, serving five years as an officer with the Davenport Police Department and as an elected marshal for one year, deputy marshal, and special policeman. Officer Means also served as a fireman for ten years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, three daughters, and a son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IA-7680EC40
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 Means gave the Davenport Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Davenport community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Davenport Police Department

Location Davenport, IA

Platform Identity dpd.scott.ia.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 17, 1883

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

Age 59

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

Weapon Not available

Military Service

James Wilson Means served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Officer James Wilson Means 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 IA, 11 of 226 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 4.9% of this state's fallen. That is 0.9 percentage points above the national rate of 4%.

At Davenport Police Department, 1 of 6 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 16.7% of this agency's fallen.

Davenport Police Department

of 6 officers

16.7% Cardiac

IA — Statewide

of 226 officers

4.9% Cardiac

Nationwide

1,306

of 32,508 officers

4% Cardiac