Nicholas Norman Davis

Seattle Police Department — Seattle, WA

Felonious

End of Watch December 18, 1984

Age 39

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Badge 23

The Vigil Panel 129 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 59

Incident

Police Officer Nicholas Davis was shot and killed with his own service weapon after confronting a suspect who had just left a restaurant without paying the $4.55 bill. Officer Davis had just finished his breakfast at the restaurant and was told of the offense by the manager. Officer Davis caught up with the suspect in a parking lot at the intersection of 10th Avenue and East Madison Street. Officer Davis, who was still in his patrol car, ordered the suspect to stop walking while speaking to him through the open driver's side window. The suspect then turned away from Officer Davis and began to walk in the opposite direction. Officer Davis placed his vehicle in reverse and continued to follow and talk to the suspect while calling for backup on his radio. In a fit of rage, the suspect pulled Officer Davis out of his patrol car and succeeded in disarming him during a struggle. As Officer Davis stood back up from the ground the suspect shot him once in the chest, and then once in the back as he attempted to take cover behind a nearby building. The suspect then walked away with Officer Davis' gun but was apprehended a short time later. The subject was sentenced to 27 years in prison but was instead committed to a mental hospital. He was released from the mental hospital in April 2011 after the hospital's budget was cut. Officer Davis had served with the Seattle Police Department for seven years and had previously served with the Bothell Police Department.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and three sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WA-5F3D398B
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 Nicholas. 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 Davis gave the Seattle Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Seattle community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Davis.

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

Agency

Department Seattle Police Department

Location Seattle, WA

Platform Identity seatpd.king.wa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 18, 1984

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Age 39

Badge Number 23

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Released in 2011

Police Officer Nicholas Norman Davis 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 WA, 187 of 339 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.2% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Seattle Police Department, 44 of 60 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 73.3% of this agency's fallen.

Seattle Police Department

of 60 officers

73.3% Felonious

WA — Statewide

187

of 339 officers

55.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious