Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Brown died as a result of a ruptured spleen and heart attack shortly after struggling with a suspect near the corner of East Trade and North College Streets.
Officer Brown had testified against the suspect earlier in the day and the man was overheard by another officer that he was going to cause Officer Brown to lose his job.
Officer Brown returned to his post following the court proceeding and was confronted by the man a short time later. He told the man to continue on his way or he would be arrested. Words were exchanged and a struggle ensued after a brief foot chase. Officer Brown was able to take the suspect into custody and he was removed to the police station. The officer felt ill and was attended to by the city physician, who sent him home. He suffered a heart attack a short time after arriving at home.
The coroner ruled Officer Brown's death accidental as a result of the heart attack and ruptured spleen. All charges against the suspect were dropped.
Officer Brown had served with the Charlotte Police Department for 6 months. He was survived by his wife and one child. He was buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and one child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-4F6F62F3- 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.
Officer Brown served with the Charlotte Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Charlotte community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Brown.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer James H. Brown is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NC, 33 of 664 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 5% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 4%.
At Charlotte Police Department, 1 of 18 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 5.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Cardiac compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James H. Brown's cause is highlighted.
How James H. Brown Compares
When Cardiac Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Cardiac deaths across the full memorial record. James H. Brown is highlighted in Aug.
Others Who Wore This Badge
17 officers from Charlotte Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
