Police Officer James J. Fenton

James J. Fenton

Police Officer James Fenton was shot and killed while attempting to question two men he suspected of burglary at the intersection of 7th Street and Pine Street.

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 Officer Fenton. The suspect then pulled out a handgun and shot Officer 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 1st, 1910, the second suspect was apprehended in Modesto. He was convicted of burglary and sentenced to 11 years. On October 27th, 1918, he committed suicide in his cell.

A few months after the incident the barber who killed the suspect became an Oakland police officer.

Officer Fenton had served with the Oakland Police Department for two years. He was survived by his wife and two children.

Officer Fenton wore the same badge as Officer George Brown, who was shot and killed in the line of duty on December 17th, 1904.