On October 30, 1982, NYPD Police Officer James “Panama” Whittington, Jr. was off-duty and socializing in a barbershop in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn when he was informed that a man with a firearm was fighting with a woman on the street. Officer Whittington went outside and approached the man, who ran. Officer Whittington jumped into his car and gave chase, but when he caught up with the subject in front of a housing development at 340 Dumont Avenue in Brooklyn, a struggle ensued, and the perpetrator — Martin Mitchell — fired three shots into the Officer. It was a few minutes after midnight. Two bullets hit Whittington in the face and one in the shoulder. Mitchell fled and left his victim to die. Officer Whittington’s body was discovered lying on the sidewalk by a Housing Police Officer who took him to Brookdale Hospital where Officer Whittington was pronounced dead at 1:20 a.m., October 31, 1982. Whittington had served the New York Police Department for nine years. At the time of his death, he was assigned to the Brooklyn North Field Internal Affairs Unit as an Investigator, but he had served most of his career in the 73 Precinct, including three years in the Street Crime Unit, where he made many felony arrests. His nickname “Panama” came from his Panamanian heritage. Based on his performance and his ability to speak Spanish, in 1978 and again in 1980, he was selected for special assignments with the New York District Attorney’s Office to assist in homicide investigations. He received eight Departmental commendations for outstanding police service. Whittington left a grieving widow, Cecilia, and two daughters, Denise and Nicole. He was only 42 years old. The perpetrator went to prison on September 6, 1983, at age 24. Mitchell became eligible for parole beginning in 2016, but he’s still serving time at Elmira Correctional Facility. On November 1, 2023, Police Commissioner Edward A. Caban promoted P.O. James Whittington, Jr. posthumously to Detective. On September 19, 2024, a Counterterrorism Division K-9 was named “Panama” in his honor.