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United States > Georgia > Atlanta Police Department > Officer James Richard Greene

Officer

James Richard Greene

Atlanta Police Department, Georgia

End of Watch: Wednesday, November 3, 1971

Bio & Incident Details

Age: 27

Tour: Not available

Badge # Not available

Cause: Gunfire

Incident Date: 11/3/1971

Weapon: Handgun; .38 caliber

Suspect: One killed;other sentenced to life

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Officer Jim Greene, working a one man unit, was assassinated while on patrol.

Officer Greene was taking a break and seated in his police van at a closed gas station when the incident occurred. The suspects, two Black Liberation Army members, approached the unsuspecting officer. While one asked him a question, the other shot him numerous times. They then stole the officer's service weapon and his badge to prove the deed to other members of the group.

One of the suspects was shot and killed in front of a grocery store by officers from the New York City Police Department and the FBI on November 14, 1973.

The other suspect had assumed another identity and blended back into society. He was able to avoid arrest for over twenty years. In 2001, while living in New York City with his live in girlfriend, he was accused of molesting her daughter and arrested. The Atlanta Police Department was notified of his arrest after his true identity was discovered.

Atlanta's cold case detectives obtained enough evidence to charge him in connection with Officer Greene's murder on July 12, 2002. He was convicted of murder on October 13, 2003, and was sentenced to life in prison.

The Black Liberation Army was a violent, radical group that attempted to fight for independence from the United States government in the late 1960's and early 1970's. The BLA was responsible for the murders of more than 10 police officers around the country. They were also responsible for violent attacks around the country that left many police officers wounded.

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Related Line of Duty Deaths

		Police Officer Donald W. Sager Baltimore City Police Department, Maryland End of Watch: Friday, April 24, 1970 Cause: Gunfire
		Police Officer Harold Hamilton San Francisco Police Department, California End of Watch: Monday, October 19, 1970 Cause: Gunfire
		Patrolman Joseph A. Piagentini New York City Police Department, New York End of Watch: Friday, May 21, 1971 Cause: Gunfire
		Patrolman Waverly M. Jones New York City Police Department, New York End of Watch: Friday, May 21, 1971 Cause: Gunfire
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		Police Officer Rocco W. Laurie New York City Police Department, New York End of Watch: Thursday, January 27, 1972 Cause: Gunfire
		Police Officer Gregory P. Foster New York City Police Department, New York End of Watch: Thursday, January 27, 1972 Cause: Gunfire
		Trooper Werner Foerster New Jersey State Police, New Jersey End of Watch: Wednesday, May 2, 1973 Cause: Gunfire
		Police Officer Sidney L. Thompson New York City Transit Police Department, New York End of Watch: Tuesday, June 5, 1973 Cause: Gunfire
		Police Officer John G. Scarangella New York City Police Department, New York End of Watch: Friday, May 1, 1981 Cause: Gunfire
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