New Orleans Police Department, Louisiana
End of Watch: Monday, October 4, 1869
Age: 40
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: 67
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: October 4, 1869
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Arrested
Patrolman James Crofton was shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance at a home at 175 St. Andrew Street.
He was at his nearby home when he was alerted to the screams of a woman calling for police. He went to the woman's aid where he discovered that the woman's husband and struck their child with a cane. The subject ran upstairs as Patrolman Crofton attempted to arrest the man. As Patrolman Crofton climbed the stairs in pursuit the man opened fire, mortally wounding him.
Patrolman Crofton was taken to his home where he died a short time later.
Patrolman Crofton was survived by five children and two brothers. He was a U.S. Army Veteran having served as a private at Fort Smith, Arkansas, in 1851 and 1852. One of his grandchildren, Robert J. Cambias, later became a New Orleans police officer and was murdered in the line of duty on October 18th, 1907.