PGPD Remembers Fallen Hero-Officer James B. Swart

Officer James B. Swart

      

Let us pause to remember our Fallen Hero, Officer James B. Swart, lost this day in 1978 while coming to the aid of a wounded colleague in Adam Sector.

Ofc. Swart was born on December 27, 1952, in Prince George's County, Maryland. He was raised in Riverdale and graduated from Parkdale High School. Ofc. Swart joined the Prince George's County Police Department as a cadet on July 23, 1972. He then entered the Police Academy on October 28, 1973, following in the footsteps of his father, a retired detective sergeant with the Metropolitan Police Department. Ofc. Swart graduated from the Academy on March 4, 1974 and was assigned to the Hyattsville Station.

At approximately 2:40 a.m.,on the morning of June 26, 1978, Ofc. Swart was at the Hyattsville Station at 5012 Rhode Island Avenue assisting with the processing of two theft suspects when one of the males fatally shot Ofc. Albert M. Claggett, IV. Hearing the gunfire from another part of the station, Ofc. Swart rushed to assist and was shot in the chest by Ofc. Claggett's assailant. Ofc. Swart was rushed to Prince George's Hospital Center where he was pronounced deceased at 3:16 a.m.,moments after his arrival.

Ofc. Swart served the Prince George's County Police Department for five years and was the ninth member of this Agency to make the Ultimate Sacrifice. He was the 16th law enforcement officer to give his life in service to this Profession within Prince George's County, Maryland.

At the time of his death, Officer James B. Swart was 25 years old and survived by his parents.