James Warren Campbell  | Star #15250

Death Classification: Line of Duty Death

Agency: Chicago Police Department

Served: 2 years, 6 months, 14 days

Unit of Assignment / Detail: 9th District - Deering

District of Incident (Present Day): 009 - Deering

Cause of Death: Gunfire - Enemy

Age at Time of Death: 29

Timeline


Date of Birth: 03 Jun 1944

Date of Appointment: 26 Jul 1971

Date of Incident: 01 Feb 1974

End of Watch: 09 Feb 1974

Date of Interment: 13 Feb 1974

 

Interment Details


 Cemetery: Burr Oak Cemetery - Alsip, Illinois
 Grave Location: Unknown
 Interment Disposition: Burial

 

Memorial Details


Superintendent’s Honored Star Case: Panel # D-6

Gold Star Families Memorial Wall: Panel # 12

Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 3, Line 27

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall: Panel # 24-E: 7

Officer Down Memorial Page: Listed

 

Service


 Military Service: U.S. Air Force

 

Incident & Biographic Details


Patrolman James Warren Campbell, Star #15250, aged 29 years, was a 2 year, 6 month, 14 day veteran of the Chicago Police Department, assigned to the 9th District – Deering.

On February 1, 1974, at aproximately 9:20 a.m., Officer Campbell was on duty inside a Currency Exchange located at 5111 South Halsted Street cashing a check in uniform. While Officer Campbell was filling out a money order, one of two male black assailants approached Officer Campbell from behind and grabbed his service revolver. A struggle over the firearm ensued and Officer Campbell was shot. As he fell to the ground he was shot three more times by the offender. Officer Campbell then tried to grab his service revolver and observed the offenders drop a small pistol as they fled the scene without taking any money. Two of the bullets struck Officer Campbell in the back severing his spinal cord leaving him partially paralyzed. He was transported to Billings Hospital by beat 971. While in the hospital he suffered from two heart attacks which required him undergo open-heart surgery. Officer Campbell died on the operating table and pronounced dead at 12:45 a.m. on February 9, 1974 by Dr. R. Prabahker.

No suspects have been identified or arrested in connection with Officer Campbell’s death. Alderman Anna Langford offered a $1000 reward, the Chicago Police Captain’s Association offered a $1000 reward and the Community Currency Exchange Association offered a $5000 reward all for information leading to the arrest of the offender.

Officer Campbell was waked at A. A. Raynor and Sons Funeral Home located at 318 East 71st Street. His funeral mass was held at Progressive Baptist Church located at 3658 South Wentworth Avenue. He was laid to rest on February 13, 1974 in Burr Oak Cemetery, 4400 West 127th Street, Alsip, Illinois.

Patrolman James Warren Campbell, born June 3, 1944, received his Probationary Appointment to the Chicago Police Department on July 26, 1971.

Officer Campbell served in the U.S. Air Force from 1963 to 1967 and was Honorably Discharged. He was survived by his fiancée, Yvette Stamps and children: Antoinette, age 12, Darren, age 10; mother, Olivia; step-father; two sisters; two brothers; two step-sisters and one step-brother. He was preceded in death by his father.

Incident Recorded under Chicago Police Department RD #P045611.

On May 21, 1998, Officer Campbell’s star was retired by Superintendent Terry G. Hillard and enshrined in the Superintendent’s Honored Star Case, located in the lobby at Chicago Police Headquarters, 1121 South State Street. In 2000, Chicago Police Headquarters moved to a new facility at 3510 South Michigan Avenue, Officer Campbell’s Star was re-encased in the new headquarters building lobby.