James William Koumoundouros
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Police Officer

James William Koumoundouros

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch September 7, 1977
Age 30
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Badge 4514
The Vigil Panel 119 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer James Koumoundouros, while working security at a chicago bank in the 6200 block of North Lincoln Avenue, observed an armed assailant walk in. The gunman immediately pointed his weapon at Officer Koumoundouros. While discreetly pushing the alarm button, Officer Koumoundouros calmly talked to the gunman. He drew his revolver and shot the robber. However, the gunman returned fire, mortally wounding Officer Koumoundouros. The gunman was convicted and sentenced to death. The governor at the time, George Ryan commuted his sentence, along with those of all 164 other inmates on death row, to life in prison on January 20, 2003.

In Our Keeping

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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 Koumoundouros gave the Chicago Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Koumoundouros.

— 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 September 7, 1977
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 30
Badge Number 4514
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon 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 1977, 128 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 36th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 30. 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 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

September holds 9.1% 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 handgun, in 23.4% 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 William Koumoundouros

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch September 7, 1977

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 27-E

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