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Policeman

James B. Wiggins

Chattanooga Police Department — Chattanooga, TN
Felonious
United States flag Tennessee flag
End of Watch April 28, 1879
Age 32
The Vigil Panel 18 · Column 3 · Line 10 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 26

Incident

Policeman Wiggins was shot and killed while responding to a disturbance call at a local brothel. Two men were arrested and taken to jail but a third man opened fire, killing Policeman Wiggins. The shooter was apprehended but later escaped from jail and was never recaptured. Policeman Wiggins was survived by his wife and six children. He was a Confederate Civil War Veteran, having served as an assistant surgeon with the 47th Georgia Regiment.

Survivors

Policeman Wiggins was survived by his wife and six children.

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

147 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Policeman Wiggins served with the Chattanooga Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Chattanooga community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Chattanooga Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Chattanooga, Hamilton County, TN
Platform Identity cpd.hamilton.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 28, 1879
Age 32
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

James is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1879, 37 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 148th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 32. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.

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

When

April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Chattanooga Police Department has 27 officers remembered here, James among them.

Across the years

Policeman James B. Wiggins

Chattanooga Police Department · End of Watch April 28, 1879

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 28-W

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