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James Franklin Tindal
Agency patch
Detective

James Franklin Tindal

Charleston Police Department — Charleston, SC
Accident
United States flag South Carolina flag
End of Watch June 17, 1955
The Vigil Panel 91 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 23

Incident

Detective James Tindal and Sergeant Jessie Benton were killed in an automobile accident near Holly Hill, South Carolina, while returning to Charleston to assist at the Charleston Tidewater Terminal fire. The two officers, along with their wives, had been in Charlotte, North Carolina, to represent the Charleston Police Department in a pistol competition. All members of the department were ordered to return to Charleston to assist at the scene of the fire. Policeman Lawrence Aytes had been killed in the fire while attempting to rescue a citizen.

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August 2, 2026
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August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Tindal served with the Charleston Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Charleston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Tindal.

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

Agency

Department Charleston Police Department
Type Other
Location Charleston, Berkeley County, SC
Platform Identity cpd.charleston.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 17, 1955
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.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1955, 67 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 59th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

When

June holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Fridays: 15.1%.

By month
By day of the week
III

How

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

Every cause
Weapons recorded
IV

His people

Charleston Police Department has 24 officers remembered here, James among them.

Across the years
V

Where

Detective James Franklin Tindal

Charleston Police Department · End of Watch June 17, 1955

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 37-E

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