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Detective Sergeant

Charles E. James

Pine Lawn Police Department — Pine Lawn, MO

Felonious

End of Watch January 9, 1983

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Badge 107

The Vigil Panel 126 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Detective Sergeant Charles James was shot and killed while he and other members of his agency served a search warrant on a home in the 6000 block of Grimshaw Avenue. He was the first member of the team to make entry and was shot when the suspect opened fire. The other officers took the subject into custody. The subject was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for 50 years. Sergeant James had served with the Pine Lawn Police Department for five years.

Survivors

He is survived by his daughter, two sons, parents, and sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MO-99AE21C9
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.
Detective Sergeant James gave the Pine Lawn Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Pine Lawn community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant James.

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

Agency

Department Pine Lawn Police Department

Location Pine Lawn, MO

Platform Identity plpd.stlouis.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 9, 1983

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Badge Number 107

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .22 caliber

Offender Sentenced to life

Detective Sergeant Charles E. James 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 MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 9.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Pine Lawn Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

MO — Statewide

516

of 813 officers

63.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles E. James's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Charles E. James Compares

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to life

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles E. James is highlighted in Jan.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles E. James was killed by handgun; .22 caliber.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518