James McDowell
Agency patch
Patrolman

James McDowell

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch October 3, 1889
Age 44
Tour of Duty 14 yrs
Badge 763
The Vigil Panel 10 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer James McDowell responded to a tavern to assist a citizen at 43rd Street and State Street. After talking to the citizen, he suddenly pulled a revolver and shot Officer McDowell. Though wounded, Officer McDowell was able to assist in subduing his assailaint. The wound suffered by Officer McDowell proved to be fatal. The suspect was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to two years. He was released in less than a year. Officer McDowell served with the Chicago Police Department for 14 years.

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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

137 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman McDowell gave the Chicago Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Chicago, Cook County, IL
Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 3, 1889
Tour of Duty 14 yrs
Age 44
Badge Number 763
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon 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.

33,917 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 1889, 46 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 142nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 44. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. James had served 14 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Chicago Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, James among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman James McDowell

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch October 3, 1889

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 47-E

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