Bobby Lee James
Agency patch
Police Officer

Bobby Lee James

Houston Police Department — Houston, TX
Felonious
End of Watch June 26, 1968
Age 38
Tour of Duty 17 yrs
Badge 1142
The Vigil Panel 104 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Bobby James was killed when his cruiser was forced off of the road while chasing the suspect who had just shot and killed Officer Ben Gerhart. Officer Gerhart had stopped the suspect after observing the man and a woman throwing bottles from their car. He placed the suspect in his cruiser and returned to the vehicle to talk to the woman. The man suddenly ran back to the car and retrieved a handgun from under the seat and opened fire as Officer Gerhart drew his weapon. The suspect then stole Officer Gerhart's weapon and fled the scene. Several officers began chasing the suspect after locating the vehicle. During the pursuit, the suspect fired at the officers before forcing Officer James' cruiser off the road on Beaumont Highway near Talcott Lane. The suspect fled on foot but was shot and killed in an ensuing shootout.

Survivors

Officer James served with the Houston Police Department for 17 years and was survived by his wife, mother, three daughters, and two sons.

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 James gave the Houston Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer James.

— 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 June 26, 1968
Tour of Duty 17 yrs
Age 38
Badge Number 1142
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Automobile

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Bobby 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 1968, 91 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 62nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Bobby was 38. 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. Bobby had served 17 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

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 automobile, in 4.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Bobby Lee James

Houston Police Department · End of Watch June 26, 1968

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 34-W

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