Police Officer

James Murphy

Baltimore Police Department — Baltimore, MD
Felonious
End of Watch July 5, 1870
Age 23
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
The Vigil Panel 4 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Murphy was killed when he was beaten with a blunt object while attempting to arrest three brothers in Lexington Market. The brothers were acting in a disorderly manner and Officer Murphy warned them to calm down. When he did so they became abusive towards the officer, who then attempted to arrest one of the three. The other two brothers then attacked Officer Murphy and beat him clubs. Other officers came to the scene and arrested the three men. Officer Murphy at first did not appear injured but began going into convulsions once he returned to the station house. All three brothers were arrested and charged with his murder. Two received sentences of 18 years and the third was sentenced to 15 years in the Maryland State Penitentiary. Officer Murphy had served with the Baltimore City Police Department for 3 years.

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

156 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Police Officer Murphy gave the Baltimore City Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Baltimore community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Baltimore, MD
Platform Identity baltpd.baltimore.md.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 5, 1870
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 23
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Blunt object

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 1870, 31 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 155th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 23. 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 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

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 blunt object, in 1.2% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years

Police Officer James Murphy

Baltimore Police Department · End of Watch July 5, 1870

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 37-E

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