William James Nixon

Jackson Police Department — Jackson, MI

Felonious

End of Watch April 27, 1978

Age 44

Tour of Duty 23 yrs

The Vigil Panel 119 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Lieutenant James Nixon was shot and killed during a traffic stop at West Berry Road and US 127 at 1:30 am. After making contact with the driver, Lieutenant Nixon returned to his patrol car to radio in the information. As he sat in his car, the driver of the truck exited and opened fire with a .44 caliber revolver, killing him. The suspect was arrested hiding in a ditch a half-mile from the shooting scene. It was determined that the truck, trailer, and bulldozer had been stolen. The man was convicted of murdering Lieutenant Nixon and sentenced to life in prison. Lieutenant Nixon had served 23 years with the Jackson Police Department.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MI-3FF849FD
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

23 years. You could have gone home.
Lieutenant Nixon gave the Jackson Police Department 23 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Jackson community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Nixon.

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

Agency

Department Jackson Police Department

Location Jackson, MI

Platform Identity jpd.jackson.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 27, 1978

Tour of Duty 23 yrs

Age 44

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Sentenced to life

Lieutenant William James Nixon 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 MI, 426 of 718 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.3% of this state's fallen. That is 5.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Jackson Police Department, 5 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Jackson Police Department

of 5 officers

100% Felonious

MI — Statewide

426

of 718 officers

59.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious