Brooklyn Police Department, Illinois
End of Watch: Saturday, December 18, 1971
Age: 52
Tour of Duty: 20 years
Badge Number: 16
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: December 7, 1971
Weapon Used: Shotgun
Suspect Info: At large
Patrolman James Towns succumbed to shotgun wounds sustained 11 days earlier while on duty.
He was struck by a shotgun blast as he walked out the front door of a local tavern at 318 Madison Street as he and another officer were conducting routine checks at 3:45 am. Witnesses said the blast came from a car occupied by two men as they drove by.
Patrolman Towns had served with the Brooklyn Police Department for 20 years. He was survived by his wife and daughter.