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Officer

James M. Carter

Richmond Police Department — Richmond, VA
Accident
United States flag Virginia flag
End of Watch April 27, 1870
The Vigil Panel 12 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 39

Incident

Officer James Carter died of injuries sustained in the Virginia Capitol Disaster.

On April 27th, 1870, a balcony collapsed inside of the Virginia State Capitol, killing 62 people, including 12 law enforcement officers.

Following the Civil War, the United States Army installed a mayor in Richmond. In January 1870 Virginia's governor appointed a new city council, which then appointed a new mayor. However, the previous mayor refused to cede the mayorship and the city operated with two mayors and governments, including two separate police departments.

The balcony collapse occurred during a Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals hearing to determine which of the city's two mayors and police departments was considered legitimate. Because of the interest in the case, hundreds of citizens crowded onto the balcony to view the case. The weight of the spectators caused the structure to give way, killing dozens of elected officials, law enforcement officers, and citizens, and injuring hundreds more.

Following what became known as the Capitol Disaster, the court reconvened and ultimately ruled that the newly appointed mayor was the legitimate mayor.

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August 2, 2026

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Tributes

156 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Officer Carter served with the Richmond Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Richmond community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Richmond Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Richmond, VA
Platform Identity rpd.richmond.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 27, 1870
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 1870, 12 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 133rd heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

When

April holds 7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.

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

Richmond Police Department has 40 officers remembered here, James among them.

Across the years
V

Where

Officer James M. Carter

Richmond Police Department · End of Watch April 27, 1870

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 42-E

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