1989

December 9, 1989
Gunfire  – @ 9300 Main 

DOB - 11/29/1960, Age 29
Badge – 2400
Class #129
Final Resting Place –    Meridian Memorial, Meridian MS    

The Houston Police Department lost one of its own on December 9, 1989, when James Charles Boswell was killed in the line of duty. Officer Boswell was shot and killed by Craig Neil Ogan when he was writing a traffic ticket in his patrol car near the Astrodome.

Officer Boswell and his partner, Officer Gainer, had stopped a motorist for a traffic violation. While handling the traffic incident, a woman approached the officers and asked for help with a domestic problem. At the same time, Mr. Ogan approached the officers also asking for help. The officers told Mr. Ogan to wait for a few minutes as they needed to finish handling the traffic incident and attend to the other woman's request. Mr. Ogan did not want to wait and started beating on the officers' car window and saying he worked for the Drug Enforcement Agency and that he needed help immediately. As Officer Boswell was exiting his vehicle to provide assistance to the parties at the scene, Mr. Ogan pulled a pistol and shot him in the head at point blank range. Immediately after the shooting, Mr. Ogan began to flee the scene.

In witnessing the event, Officer Gainer immediately began pursuing Mr. Ogan. Despite knowing that Mr. Ogan was armed and presented a danger to any bystander, Officer Gainer began pursuing him on During the pursuit, Officer Gainer wounded Mr. Ogan by shooting him in the leg. Upon being apprehended, Mr. Ogan was transported to Ben Taub Hospital where he received treatment for his wounds. Mr. Ogan was subsequently tried for Capital Murder and given the death sentence.

At the funeral services, Ed Young, Pastor of Second Baptist Church, said, "When a man is doing his duty exactly like it's supposed to be done and a nonsensical, capricious act takes place with no rhyme or reason, we wring our hands in frustration, confusion, and doubt. May the whole story be told, leading to a new revival of respect, honor, and admiration for those who carry the torch and wave the flag, as did this, our graduated servant, Officer Jim Boswell."
Houston's Police Honor Guard presented Officer Boswell's mother with the flag that draped his coffin. His father was given his son's police hat. Department helicopters flew overhead in the "missing man" formation and the Honor Guard paid homage with a "21 Gun Salute and Taps.

Jim Boswell is survived by Cecil and Martha Boswell, his parents; Michael, Joey, Kenneth, his brothers; and Cherie, his sister. We dedicate this tribute to Officer Boswell for his willingness to put his life on the line for the citizens of Houston.

Source – Houston Police Department Museum Files