James Williams Branson, Jr.

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department — St. Louis, MO

Accident

End of Watch March 9, 2003

Age 36

Tour of Duty 4 yrs 6 mo

The Vigil Panel 150 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 175

Incident

Police Officer James Branson died of an injury he received when he was involved in a motor vehicle crash while in pursuit of a stolen vehicle.

He and his partner spotted a vehicle that had been taken a few hours earlier in a carjacking. When the officers attempted to stop the vehicle, a pursuit began. During the pursuit, the officer's police cruiser collided with a sport utility vehicle at the intersection of North Market Street and North Jefferson Avenue.

Officer Branson was treated for a broken ankle and had surgery on the ankle on February 14th, 2003, and was sent home to recover. On March 9th, 2003, he suffered a fatal pulmonary embolism caused by a massive blood clot that traveled from his ankle to his heart and lungs.

Officer Branson had served with the St. Louis Police Department for four years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MO-DAC2B089
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew James. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Branson gave the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Branson.

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

Agency

Department St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department

Location St. Louis, MO

Platform Identity stlopd.saintlouis.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 9, 2003

Tour of Duty 4 yrs 6 mo

Age 36

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Weapon Automobile

Offender Escaped

Police Officer James Williams Branson, Jr. 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 MO, 237 of 813 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 29.2% of this state's fallen. That is 1.8 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.

At St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, 56 of 176 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31.8% of this agency's fallen.

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department

of 176 officers

31.8% Accident

MO — Statewide

237

of 813 officers

29.2% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers

31% Accident