Police Officer

James J. Hess

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Felonious
End of Watch March 14, 1919
Age 31
Tour of Duty 10 mo
Badge 3448
The Vigil Panel 36 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Hess was shot and killed with his own handgun after responding to a disturbance call at a saloon in the 1300 block of Dickinson Street. The saloon owner and his bartender were arrested for his murder but they were not charged and were later released.

Survivors

Officer Hess served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 10 months and was survived by his mother.

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

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA
Platform Identity ppd.philadelphia.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 14, 1919
Tour of Duty 10 mo
Age 31
Badge Number 3448
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

James is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% 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
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1919, 212 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 7th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 31. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. James had served 0.8 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 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 5.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer James J. Hess

Philadelphia Police Department · End of Watch March 14, 1919

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 5-W

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