Officer J. D. Tippit

Officer J. D. Tippit

Dallas Police Department, Texas

End of Watch Friday, November 22, 1963

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J. D. Tippit

Officer J.D. Tippit was shot and killed while questioning the assassin of President John F. Kennedy at Tenth and Patton Streets.

At approximately 1:14 pm, 45 minutes after President Kennedy was shot, Officer Tippit stopped the suspect, Lee Harvey Oswald, who was on foot and fit the general description of the assassin that was being broadcast by the Dallas police radio.

After being summoned by Officer Tippit, Oswald came over to the passenger side of the patrol car, where they spoke through an open window. After a brief conversation, Officer Tippit got out of his car, and as he was walking toward the front of his patrol car, Oswald suddenly shot him three times at point-blank range with a .38 caliber revolver. After Officer Tippit fell, he was shot in the head by Oswald, which proved to be the fatal shot.

A citizen who witnessed the shooting used the police radio in Officer Tippit's patrol car to alert other officers of the shooting.

Oswald was apprehended hiding in a movie theater after he was seen by an alert citizen who witnessed the shooting of Officer Tippit.

Oswald was shot and killed two days later by Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby while in police custody.

Officer Tippit was a United States Army WWII veteran and bronze star recipient and served with the Dallas Police Department for 11 years. He is survived by his wife, daughter, two sons, parents, four brothers, two sisters, and his grandmother.

In January 1964, Officer Tippit was posthumously awarded the Medal of Valor from the National Police Hall of Fame and also received the Police Medal of Honor, the Police Cross, and the Citizen's Traffic Commission Award of Heroism.

He is buried in Laurel Land Memorial Park in Dallas, Texas.

Bio

  • Age 39
  • Tour 11 years, 3 months
  • Badge 848
  • Military Veteran

Incident Details

  • Cause Gunfire
  • Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber
  • Offender Shot and killed

suspicious person

Most Recent Reflection

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To Officer JD Tippit,

Upon reading these reflections and thinking of my own son pursuing a career as a Police Constable, I have come to realize we often forget the high price paid by our loved ones in service to a higher ideal and noble cause. This officer aspired to the highest call in the land and in my view he achieved it! Thank you for inspiring my children, thank for showing future generations the value of service. May your family be richly blessed in this world and the next for your sacrifice

Graeme Coultis, Civilian Canada
Father of future Police Constable in training

March 14, 2024

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