Detective Sergeant James Higgins, Erie Police Department, Pennsylvania

Detective Sergeant James Higgins

Erie Police Department, Pennsylvania

End of Watch Sunday, May 14, 1905

James Higgins

Detective Sergeant James Higgins was shot and killed while investigating a report of a suspicious person at the Central High School at 10th Street and Sassafras Street at 10:30 hours.

After an initial investigation he returned to the station after finding nothing. He told another officer he was going to return to the school to check it a second time. While there the second time he encountered a man and he identified himself as a police officer. The suspect suddenly produced a handgun and shot him in the jaw.

As he struggled with the suspect he was shot two more times in the chest. The suspect fled and was never apprehended.

Detective Sergeant Higgins was a U.S. Army veteran of the Civil War and had served with the Erie Police Department for 23 years. He was survived by his wife and seven children.

On April 1st, 2003, 98 years after his murder, Detective Sergeant Higgins was posthumously awarded the department's Medal of Honor.

Bio

Age 58
Tour 23 years
Badge 10
Military Veteran

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Handgun
Offender Never identified

Most Recent Reflection

View all 6 Reflections

This man was married to my great grand aunt from Toomevara Co. Tipperary,Ireland. As tragedy struck the family again in 1915 . Thanks to our cousin John Barber who gave us the information we held a mass for the family in Gortagarry church to rememeber them. We are very pround of this man as we are also invovled in the policing profession in Ireland and the school for policing is in Templemore.

Ann McDonnell
great grand niece

May 10, 2016