James J. Donovan
Agency patch
Patrolman

James J. Donovan

Accident
End of Watch March 19, 1943
Age 37
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Badge 2352
The Vigil Panel 79 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman James Donovan was inadvertently shot and killed while off-duty and in civilian clothes by another Patrolman who mistook Patrolman Donovan for an offender. Patrolman Donovan had served with the New York City Police Department for four years and was assigned to the 75th Precinct.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four children.

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.
Patrolman Donovan gave the New York City Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Donovan.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location New York, NY
Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 19, 1943
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Age 37
Badge Number 2352
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

James is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% 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
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1943, 38 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 109th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 37. 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 had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

March holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Fridays: 15.1%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

New York City Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, James among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman James J. Donovan

New York City Police Department · End of Watch March 19, 1943

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 59-E

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