Police Officer James J. Fenton

James J. Fenton

Patrolman Fenton was shot and killed while attempting to question two men he suspected of burglary. Both men had blown a post office safe near St. Jose two weeks earlier. When he told the men he was going to arrest them one fled and the second began to struggle with Patrolman Fenton. The suspect then pulled out a handgun and shot Patrolman Fenton. As the suspect attempted to flee a nearby barber in his shop ran out and grabbed the suspect, gained control of his weapon, and then shot and killed him.

On March 1, 1910, the second suspect was apprehended in Modesto. He was convicted of burglary and sentenced to 11 years. On October 27, 1918, he committed suicide in his cell.

Patrolman Fenton had been with the agency for two years and was survived by his wife and two children. A few months later the barber who killed the suspect became a Oakland police officer.