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James E. Travis
Agency patch
Special Officer

James E. Travis

Atlanta Police Department — Atlanta, GA
Felonious
United States flag Georgia flag
End of Watch February 24, 1922
Tour of Duty
The Vigil Panel 42 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 87

Incident

Special Officer James Travis succumbed to wounds sustained the previous night when he was shot with his own service weapon while attempting to arrest a subject near his home on the 400 block of Ponce de Leon Avenue. Officer Travis was off duty but went to investigate a disturbance at a store down the street from his home. As a result he attempted to arrest one of the men involved. After placing his gun back in its holster and handcuffing the suspect, the subject was able to grab the officer's service revolver and shot him twice. The shooting was witnessed by Officer Travis' wife, who was standing on their front porch. The suspect fled the scene after the shooting. Officer Travis was transported to Grady Hospital where he died the following evening. The suspect was apprehended in Tifton on October 24, 1935. Officer Travis had been appointed as a special officer until the next meeting of the police election board.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

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

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

Agency

Department Atlanta Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Atlanta, Fulton County, GA
Platform Identity apd.fulton.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 24, 1922
Tour of Duty
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.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1922, 228 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James had served 0.1 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

February holds 7.4% 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

Atlanta Police Department has 88 officers remembered here, James among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Special Officer James E. Travis

Atlanta Police Department · End of Watch February 24, 1922

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 52-W

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