Police Officer

James Days

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Cardiac
End of Watch November 10, 1978
Age 52
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer James Days died after suffering a heart attack during a foot pursuit of two subjects who fled from a stolen vehicle. Officer Days and his partner were on patrol when they saw the vehicle driving erratically. They chased it to the 1300 block of East Madison Park where the driver struck a tree and fled on foot. Officer Days pursued the driver and was found unconscious on a sidewalk in front of 1357 East 50th Street. He was transported to the University of Chicago Hospital where he passed away. Officers from the University of Chicago Police Department responded to assist the officers and apprehended the offender. Officer Days was assigned to the Prairie Avenue District.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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 Days served with the Chicago Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Days.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Chicago, Cook County, IL
Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 10, 1978
Age 52
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac
Weapon Person

The Sacrifice · Cardiac

James is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1978, 19 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, the 12th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 52. Of the 1,249 lost to cardiac events in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 55; the middle age was 48.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

November holds 8.6% of these deaths in the United States; January holds the most, 9.6%. Fridays: 15.8%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Cardiac deaths account for 4.7% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 4th most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 16.1% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Chicago Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, James among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer James Days

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch November 10, 1978

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 28-E

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