Tacoma Police Department, Washington
End of Watch: Tuesday, April 27, 2004
Age: 45
Tour of Duty: 19 years
Badge Number: 326
Cause of Death: Motorcycle crash
Date of Incident: April 27, 2004
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Police Officer Jim Lewis was killed when his department motorcycle collided with a vehicle.
He was responding to backup an officer who had just stopped a wanted felon. Officer Lewis was southbound on Alaska Street with his emergency lights flashing and its siren activated. A line of cars also headed south on Alaska Street stopped in the street just before 55th Street as Officer Lewis was approaching. Officer Lewis maneuvered his motorcycle into the northbound lanes to pass them. Another motorist near the head of the line tried to turn left off Alaska Street onto 55th Street. The motorist unknowingly steered her car right into Officer Lewis' path.
Officer Lewis' Kawasaki Police 1000 motorcycle struck the car near the front of the driver's side door. He was thrown from the motorcycle and his head struck the ground when he landed.
He was transported to Tacoma General Hospital where he died about three hours later.
Officer Lewis had served with the Tacoma Police Department for 19 years. He is survived by his wife and son.