James Murphy

Baltimore Police Dept. — Baltimore, MD

Felonious

End of Watch July 5, 1870

Age 23

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

The Vigil Panel 4 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 150

Incident

Officer Murphy was killed when he was beaten with a blunt object while attempting to arrest three brothers in Lexington Market. The brothers were acting in a disorderly manner and Officer Murphy warned them to calm down. When he did so they became abusive towards the officer, who then attempted to arrest one of the three. The other two brothers then attacked Officer Murphy and beat him clubs. Other officers came to the scene and arrested the three men. Officer Murphy at first did not appear injured but began going into convulsions once he returned to the station house. All three brothers were arrested and charged with his murder. Two received sentences of 18 years and the third was sentenced to 15 years in the Maryland State Penitentiary. Officer Murphy had served with the Baltimore City Police Department for 3 years.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-MD-1573240E
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

156 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Police Officer Murphy gave the Baltimore City Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Baltimore community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Baltimore Police Dept.

Location Baltimore, MD

Platform Identity baltpd.baltimore.md.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 5, 1870

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 23

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Blunt object

Offender Sentenced to prison

Police Officer James Murphy 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 MD, 195 of 377 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.7% of this state's fallen. That is 2.5 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Baltimore Police Dept., 80 of 151 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this agency's fallen.

Baltimore Police Dept.

of 151 officers

53% Felonious

MD — Statewide

195

of 377 officers

51.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious