James Joseph McConkey

Fayetteville Police Department — Fayetteville, NC

Felonious Veteran →

End of Watch December 3, 1977

Age 25

The Vigil Panel 119 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 9

Incident

Police Officer James McConkey was shot and killed in downtown Fayetteville after a suspect was able to gain control of his service weapon. Officer McConkey was on foot patrol as a result of a recent rash of burglaries in the area. He approached three suspicious men and a struggle ensued in which he was shot. The 26-year-old subject turned himself in the following morning. The suspect was convicted of manslaughter and armed robbery and sentenced to life. The suspect, who has 155 infractions including escape, was still in prison on June 11, 2023. His release date is in 2054. Officer McConkey was a U.S. Army veteran.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, parents, and two brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NC-145CC54E
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Police Officer McConkey served with the Fayetteville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Fayetteville community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Fayetteville Police Department

Location Fayetteville, NC

Platform Identity fpd.cumberland.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 3, 1977

Age 25

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Sentenced to life

Military Service

James Joseph McConkey served in the Other (1971â1974) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Police Officer James Joseph McConkey 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 NC, 385 of 664 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58% of this state's fallen. That is 3.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Fayetteville Police Department, 7 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70% of this agency's fallen.

Fayetteville Police Department

of 10 officers

70% Felonious

NC — Statewide

385

of 664 officers

58% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious