Police Officer

James Thomas Gambill

Houston Police Department — Houston, TX
Cardiac
End of Watch December 1, 1936
Age 48
Tour of Duty 14 yrs
The Vigil Panel 72 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Gambill suffered a fatal heart attack following a violent struggle with a suspect. He and his partner had just arrested the man for threatening to murder his wife and were transporting the man to jail. The suspect attempted to grab Officer Gambill's service weapon while the officers drove on Calhoun Street and a struggle ensued. Officer Gambill's partner had to shoot the suspect five times before the man released his grip on Officer Gambill. Officer Gambill took two steps into the street and collapsed. Officer Gambill had served with the Houston Police Department for 14 years.

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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 Gambill gave the Houston Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Gambill.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Houston, Harris County, TX
Platform Identity hpd.harris.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 1, 1936
Tour of Duty 14 yrs
Age 48
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

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.

33,917 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 1936, 9 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, the 68th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 48. 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. James had served 14 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.

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

When

December holds 8.5% of these deaths in the United States; January holds the most, 9.6%. Tuesdays: 13.9%.

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.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Houston Police Department has 117 officers remembered here, James among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer James Thomas Gambill

Houston Police Department · End of Watch December 1, 1936

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 2-E

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