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Patrolman

James North

New York Municipal Police — New York City, NY

Felonious

End of Watch August 21, 1885

Age 26

The Vigil Panel 24 · Column 1 · Line 5 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 20

Incident

Patrolman James North was stabbed to death by a disorderly male on his post.

Patrolman North was walking on Wall Street in Manhattan at approximately 11:45 p.m. when he observed a disorderly man who had been drinking and harassing females at the corner of Wall Street and Broadway. The subject agreed to behave himself before he was sent on his way. When Patrolman North turned his back and walked away, the suspect doubled back and stabbed Patrolman North in the back.

A doctor who witnessed the incident attended to Patrolman North, while two other patrolmen chased and apprehended the fleeing suspect. As the doctor was attending to Patrolman North, he spoke his last words: "My poor wife and children."

The suspect, charged with first-degree murder, was later convicted. He was sentenced to life in prison.

Patrolman North was assigned to the 1st precinct.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and children.

In Our Keeping

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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

141 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman North served with the New York Municipal Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department New York Municipal Police

Type Police Department

Location New York City, NY

Platform Identity nymunpd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 21, 1885

Age 26

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Stabbed

Weapon Edged weapon; Knife

The Sacrifice · Felonious

James is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.

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

See the roll

Compare against

Time

In 1885, 66 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 117th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.

Every year on record · Worldwide

Who

James was 26. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

August holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon; knife, in 0.7% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded