Police Officer James Francis Kane, Philadelphia Police Department, Pennsylvania

Police Officer James Francis Kane

Philadelphia Police Department, Pennsylvania

End of Watch Friday, June 5, 1959

James Francis Kane

Officer James Kane was shot to death while walking his beat in North Philadelphia in 3700 block of North Sydenham Street by two brothers he caught stealing milk off doorsteps.

The two brothers, ages 22 and 24, led police on a multi-state pursuit that ended in Middleboro, Massachussetts, with one brother being killed in a gun battle with police. The other brother was captured, tried, and convicted of Officer Kane’s murder and sentenced to death. His sentence was later commuted to life.

Officer Kane was a U.S Navy veteran of WWII and had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for two years.

Bio

Age 33
Tour 2 years
Badge 5367
Military Veteran

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender One killed, one sentenced to death

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When I joined the Philadelphia police department in Sept 1960 I was assigned to the sixth district. Jim Kane was the subject of much discussion and the lesson as to the seriousness and vulnerability of our service. I have seen his name on the city memorial.

Loring Hill Ptlm
Philadelphia Pa PD

November 21, 2016