Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman James Sexton was performing a training exercise when a gun held by a fellow officer accidentally discharged at the department's Canine Corps School at 6500 S. County Line Road, in Hinsdale. Another officer was handing Patrolman Sexton's revolver back to him after examining it and it discharged. Patrolman Sexton was struck in the chest and fatally wounded. Patrolman James Sexton had served with the Chicago Police Department for 14 years.
Survivors
survivors is certainly outstanding. I am also amazed by Scanlon who was not only retained as an employee of the police department but worked in safety, ironically, when he was responsible for the tragedy --
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-819E2381- 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.
Patrolman Sexton gave the Chicago Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Sexton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman James O. Sexton 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 IL, 354 of 1,318 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 26.9% of this state's fallen. That is 4.1 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Chicago Police Department, 107 of 571 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 18.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James O. Sexton's cause is highlighted.
How James O. Sexton Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. James O. Sexton is highlighted in Jul.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
570 officers from Chicago Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
