James Thomas Gambill

Houston Police Department — Houston, TX

Cardiac

End of Watch December 1, 1936

Age 48

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

The Vigil Panel 72 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 116

Incident

Officer Gambill suffered a fatal heart attack following a violent struggle with a suspect. He and his partner had just arrested the man for threatening to murder his wife and were transporting the man to jail. The suspect attempted to grab Officer Gambill's service weapon while the officers drove on Calhoun Street and a struggle ensued. Officer Gambill's partner had to shoot the suspect five times before the man released his grip on Officer Gambill. Officer Gambill took two steps into the street and collapsed. Officer Gambill had served with the Houston Police Department for 14 years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-3FC11421
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.
Police Officer Gambill gave the Houston Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Gambill.

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

Agency

Department Houston Police Department

Location Houston, TX

Platform Identity hpd.harris.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 1, 1936

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

Age 48

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

Police Officer James Thomas Gambill 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 TX, 88 of 2,421 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 3.6% of this state's fallen.

At Houston Police Department, 2 of 117 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 1.7% of this agency's fallen.

Houston Police Department

of 117 officers

1.7% Cardiac

TX — Statewide

of 2,421 officers

3.6% Cardiac

Nationwide

1,306

of 32,508 officers

4% Cardiac