Detective Sergeant James Higgins
Erie Police Department
Pennsylvania
End of Watch: Sunday, May 14, 1905

Biographical Info
Age: 58
Tour of Duty: 23 years
Badge Number: 10

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Sunday, May 14, 1905
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Never identified

Detective Sergeant Higgins was shot and killed while investigating a report of a suspicious person at the Central High School at 10th Street and Sassafras Street at 2230 hours. After an initial investigation he returned to the station after finding nothing. He told another officer he was going to return to the school to check it a second time. While there the second time he encountered a man and he identified himself as a police officer. The suspect suddenly produced a handgun and shot him in the jaw.

As he struggled with the suspect he was shot two more times in the chest. The suspect fled and was never apprehended.

Detective Sergeant Higgins had been with the agency for 23 years. On April 1, 2003 - 98 years after his murder - Detective Sergeant Higgins was posthumously awarded the department's Medal of Honor.