James Drayton Ballard

Columbus Division of Police — Columbus, OH

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch November 9, 1914

Age 36

Tour of Duty 1 yrs

Badge 179

The Vigil Panel 29 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 58

Incident

Patrolman James Ballard was shot and killed while responding to a burglary in progress at a tavern at the intersection of Oak Street and Parsons Avenue. The suspect escaped with an accomplice, but both were apprehended 48 hours later. The shooter was sentenced to death, and the accomplice was sentenced to life. On July 15, 1915, the shooter's death sentence was commuted to life. On July 25, 1932, he was pardoned by Governor George White because he was in imminent danger of death. He died from heart disease five days later. Patrolman Ballard was a U.S. Army veteran of the Spanish American War and had served with the Columbus Division of Police for one year.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-C3F7CBC3
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.
Patrolman Ballard gave the Columbus Division of Police 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus 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 Columbus Division of Police

Location Columbus, OH

Platform Identity cdpd.franklin.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 9, 1914

Tour of Duty 1 yrs

Age 36

Badge Number 179

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender One sentenced to death

Military Service

James Drayton Ballard served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman James Drayton Ballard 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 OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Columbus Division of Police, 36 of 59 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61% of this agency's fallen.

Columbus Division of Police

of 59 officers

61% Felonious

OH — Statewide

572

of 991 officers

57.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious