Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Jim Lewis was killed when his department motorcycle collided with a vehicle.
He was responding to backup an officer who had just stopped a wanted felon. Officer Lewis was southbound on Alaska Street with his emergency lights flashing and its siren activated. A line of cars also headed south on Alaska Street stopped in the street just before 55th Street as Officer Lewis was approaching. Officer Lewis maneuvered his motorcycle into the northbound lanes to pass them. Another motorist near the head of the line tried to turn left off Alaska Street onto 55th Street. The motorist unknowingly steered her car right into Officer Lewis' path.
Officer Lewis' Kawasaki Police 1000 motorcycle struck the car near the front of the driver's side door. He was thrown from the motorcycle and his head struck the ground when he landed.
He was transported to Tacoma General Hospital where he died about three hours later.
Officer Lewis had served with the Tacoma Police Department for 19 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WA-7B8F4B8E- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew James. 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 Lewis gave the Tacoma Police Department 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tacoma community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Lewis.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer James Gordon Lewis is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.
In WA, 111 of 340 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 32.6% of this state's fallen. That is 32.6 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Tacoma Police Department, 5 of 12 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 41.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Gordon Lewis's cause is highlighted.
How James Gordon Lewis Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. James Gordon Lewis is highlighted in Apr.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Tacoma Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
