Chicago Police Department, Illinois
End of Watch Tuesday, March 9, 1999
Add to My HeroesJames Henry Camp
Officer James Henry Camp was shot and killed after stopping a stolen vehicle. During the stop, Officer Camp, who was in plain clothes, asked the driver to exit the vehicle. Once he was out of the vehicle, a struggle ensued, and the offender gained control of Officer Camp's weapon, shooting him twice in the head.
The assailant then fired at another officer who was approaching the scene. The backup officer returned fire and shot the gunman five times, wounding him.
The incident occurred outside of an elementary school and was witnessed by several children.
Officer Camp's killer was acquitted of murder and of the attempted murder of the backup officer. The subject was convicted of disarming Officer Camp and for possession of a stolen car. The judge sentenced the murderer to the maximum of two consecutive 30-year prison terms for the two other offenses of which he was convicted. The subject appealed the sentence and was sentenced to only 28 years in prison.
Officer Camp was a United States Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Chicago Police Department for four years. He is survived by his wife.
Bio
- Age 34
- Tour 5 years
- Badge 3934
- Military Veteran
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Officer's handgun
- Offender Acquitted
Most Recent Reflection
View all 75 ReflectionsI knew Camp before he became a cop. We both worked for a Canadian security company that had just set up shop in Chicago. He made mobile supervisor insanely quickly. My first interaction with him was hilarious. I took an overtime shift once not knowing that I'd be baby sitting a parking lot full cars all night over in Streeterville. Sitting in my car, I eventually fell asleep, which is a huge no no, obviously. A noise woke me up around dawn. It was Camp tapping on my window with his Maglite and a huge 'I got your a**' grin on his face. The reason he was smiling was because as a supervisor, he got stuck filling all the shifts that people would call off. Finding me asleep a**ured him that I was about to take three or four shifts off his hands as opposed to taking a write up in my permanent file. It's been 30 years and I still laugh about that. Camp was good people. I liked and respected him immensely. I remember years later when I was working at the Board of Trade, watching the morning news as I'm getting ready, Camp's face pops up on the screen and I f***ing froze. Kinda been stuck like that ever since. Still can't believe a cat like that is gone. He had just gotten married, too. God,I felt for his wife. Anyway, know you're missed, my man. I'll never forget you and your Maglite and your grin at 5:30 that morning.
Kal Steiner
Former co workers
November 7, 2022
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