Incident
Officer James Wright died after contracting pneumonia while guarding the body of another man who had died at a Washington Street lodging house.
He was forced to wait in the cold for an extended period of time as he waited for the coroner to arrive. He died three days later.
Officer Wright had served with the Portland Police Bureau for five years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and 4-year-old son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtnsp7zjb2m52q97ghe75- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- 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.
Officer Wright gave the Portland Police Bureau 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Portland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Wright.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Illness
Portland Police Bureau has lost 31 officers; 2 of them lost to illness.
James is one of 5 officers lost to illness in OR, 2.5% of the 197 remembered there.
James is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,551 remembered there.
James is one of 2,979 officers lost to illness worldwide, 8.7% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1923, 1 officer in OR was lost to illness, the 2nd heaviest of 4 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 2.
In 1923, 2 officers in the United States were lost to illness, the 46th heaviest of 108 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 564.
In 1923, 11 officers worldwide were lost to illness, the 36th heaviest of 197 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 566.
Who
James was 36. Of the 5 lost to illness in OR whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 41; the middle age was 36. James had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
James was 36. Of the 1,996 lost to illness in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 42 and 58; the middle age was 51. James had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
James was 36. Of the 2,916 lost to illness worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 39 and 56; the middle age was 49. James had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
When
January holds 20% of these deaths in OR; October holds the most, 40%. Sundays: 40%.
January holds 9.5% of these deaths in the United States; October holds the most, 14.9%. Sundays: 14.2%.
January holds 9.9% of these deaths worldwide; October holds the most, 12.6%. Sundays: 13.2%.
How
Illness deaths account for 6.5% of all 31 deaths at Portland Police Bureau, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 2.5% of all 197 deaths in OR, the 4th most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 7.4% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 8.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the 3rd most common cause.
His people
Portland Police Bureau has 31 officers remembered here, James among them.
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Thomas G. O'Connor
Aug 30, 1867
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Charles F. Schoppe
Jun 13, 1874
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Samuel Smyth Young
Sep 23, 1908
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Albert W. Moe
Jan 9, 1914
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James R. White
Nov 17, 1914
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Ralph H. Stahl
Jan 27, 1915
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James C. Gill
Nov 30, 1915
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John J. McCarthy
Jul 21, 1916
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Andrew James Laugeson
May 12, 1917
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Glenn Logan Litzenberg
Apr 19, 1918
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Peter Walter Jost Oct 22, 1918
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Jerome Palmer
Nov 17, 1920
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James David Wright
Jan 21, 1923
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Robert E. Drake
Oct 11, 1930
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Charles M. White
Jun 30, 1934
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Phillip R. Johnson
May 19, 1941
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Charles E. Vincent
Mar 22, 1942
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James A. Hines
Nov 4, 1945
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Gilbert Haven Horton
Dec 23, 1946
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Roy Edward Mizner
Feb 18, 1956
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Vernon Jacob Stroeder
Feb 18, 1956
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Roger L. Davies
Apr 18, 1961
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Robert Paul Murray
May 2, 1962
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Robert R. Ferron, Jr.
May 23, 1964
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Stephen Michael Owens
Sep 23, 1973
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Dennis Allen Darden
Aug 9, 1974
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David Wayne Crowther
Dec 27, 1979
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Stanley Dale Pounds
Jul 18, 1984
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Thomas Layton Jeffries
Jul 21, 1997
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Colleen Ann Waibel
Jan 27, 1998
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Kirk Robert Huffstetler
May 26, 2002
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 40-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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