Indianapolis Police Department, Indiana
End of Watch: Tuesday, March 16, 1976
Age: 29
Tour of Duty: 7 years, 1 month
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: March 16, 1976
Weapon Used: Shotgun
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Detective James Compton was shot and killed while attempting to serve a narcotics warrant on a man suspected of selling marijuana to students at a nearby high school at 2145 North Gent in Indianapolis.
Detective Compton and three other detectives went to the man's home at approximately 10:00 pm to serve the warrant. When Detective Compton knocked on the door and identified himself, the suspect fired a shotgun from inside, striking him in the head.
Detective Compton was able to crawl to the front yard, where he collapsed before being transported to a local hospital, where he died approximately two hours later. The other detectives returned fire at the suspect, fatally wounding him.
Detective Compton was a United States Navy Vietnam Purple Heart veteran who had served with the Indianapolis Police Department for five years and with narcotics for only six weeks and had previously served as a police officer in Kansas for two years. Detective Compton was survived by his wife, 6- and 11-year-old daughters, and a 5-year-old son.