Incident
Police Officer James Cummings was responding to a shots-fired call when his motorcycle struck another vehicle at 14th Street and Red River Road.
Despite efforts by his partner and the occupants of the car to carry Officer Cummings to nearby Brackenridge Hospital, he died almost instantly.
Officer Cummings was the second motorcycle officer to be killed in less than two months.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Cummings served with the Austin Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Austin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Cummings.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Austin Police Department has lost 28 officers; 12 of them lost to accidents.
James is one of 657 officers lost to accidents in TX, 27.1% of the 2,422 remembered there.
James is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
James is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1933, 2 officers at Austin Police Department were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1933, 7 officers in TX were lost to accidents, the 25th heaviest of 136 years on record. The heaviest was 1994, with 14.
In 1933, 77 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 31st heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1933, 94 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 29th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
James was 31. Of the 12 lost to accidents at Austin Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 28.8 and 38.3; the middle age was 30.
James was 31. Of the 626 lost to accidents in TX whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 46; the middle age was 36.
James was 31. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36.
James was 31. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36.
When
December holds 16.7% of these deaths at Austin Police Department; October holds the most, 33.3%. Sundays: 25%.
December holds 11.7% of these deaths in TX, more than any other month. Sundays: 12.6%.
December holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Sundays: 14%.
December holds 8.9% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Sundays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 42.9% of all 28 deaths at Austin Police Department, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 27.1% of all 2,422 deaths in TX, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Austin Police Department has 28 officers remembered here, James among them.
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Cornelius L. Fahey
Mar 8, 1875
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John H. Gaines Nov 19, 1913
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Thomas Allen
Oct 24, 1915
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James Newel Littlepage
Oct 9, 1928
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William Murray Stuart
Oct 16, 1933
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James R. Cummings
Dec 3, 1933
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Elkins Pond Morrison
Feb 3, 1936
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Walter Lee Tucker, Jr.
Oct 14, 1948
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Donald Eugene Carpenter
Jan 30, 1964
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Billy Paul Speed
Aug 1, 1966
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Thomas Wayne Birtrong
Aug 23, 1974
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Leland Dale Anderson
Jun 6, 1975
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Ralph Allen Ablanedo
May 18, 1978
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Lee Craig Smith
Dec 15, 1979
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Robert Townes Martinez, Jr.
Feb 25, 1989
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Drew Alan Bolin
Jun 2, 1995
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Clinton Warren Hunter
Nov 29, 2001
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Earl Alison Hall
Mar 4, 2002
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Amy Lynn Donovan
Oct 31, 2004
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Jaime De Luna Padron
Apr 6, 2012
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Clay Douglas Crabb
Oct 16, 2013
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Amir Abdul-Khaliq
Sep 4, 2016
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Lewis Andrew Traylor
Jul 31, 2021
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Randolph Boyd, Jr.
Aug 25, 2021
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Steve Urias
Aug 26, 2021
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Eric Shawn Lindsey
Dec 5, 2021
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Anthony Martin
Sep 23, 2022
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Jorge Pastore
Nov 11, 2023
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 40-W
What is kept
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