James Matthew Bava
Agency patch
Trooper

James Matthew Bava

Missouri State Highway Patrol — Jefferson City, MO
Accident
End of Watch August 28, 2015
Age 25
Tour of Duty 2 yrs 2 mo
Gender Male

Incident

Trooper James Bava was killed in a single-vehicle crash at the intersection of Highway FF and County Road 977, in Audrain County, shortly before 8:30 am.

He was pursuing a speeding motorcycle when his patrol car crashed.

The driver of the motorcycle was arrested on November 23rd, 2015, following a three-month-long investigation. The man was charged with second-degree murder, resisting a lawful stop, resisting arrest by a state trooper, careless driving, excessive speeding, and failure to register a vehicle.

In March 2018, the subject Trooper Bava was pursuing was acquitted of manslaughter.

Trooper Bava had served with the Missouri State Highway Patrol for two years and was assigned to Troop F.

Survivors

He is survived by his parents, two brothers, three sisters, and fiancée.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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.
Trooper Bava gave the Missouri State Highway Patrol 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Missouri. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Bava.

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

Agency

Type Highway Patrol
Location Jefferson City, MO
Platform Identity mshp.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 28, 2015
Tour of Duty 2 yrs 2 mo
Age 25
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Cause Detail Vehicle pursuit
Weapon Automobile; Motorcycle

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.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 2015, 53 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 88th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 25. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. James had served 2.2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

August holds 9.5% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Fridays: 15.1%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile; motorcycle, in 0.1% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Missouri State Highway Patrol has 33 officers remembered here, James among them.

VI

Where

Trooper James Matthew Bava

Missouri State Highway Patrol · End of Watch August 28, 2015

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 62-E

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