Officer Rowland Memorial

December 6, 1968 - May 15, 1999

On May 15, 1999 at approximately 1:35 a.m., Palmer Police Officer James Rowland responded to the Carr's grocery store parking lot in Palmer regarding a report of a man slumped over the steering wheel of a vehicle. The contact resulted in an exchange of gunfire between the two. Both parties were wounded and transported to a local hospital, where Officer Rowland died as a result of his injuries.
Officer James A. Rowland, Jr. was born in Maryland and came to Alaska with his family in 1978. Following high school graduation, he lived for a time in North Pole and after two years returned to Palmer to work as a reserve police officer. He joined the U.S. Navy and served for six years. Rowland had been with the Palmer Police Department since 1996. He was the first police officer killed in the line of duty with the Palmer Police Department.
Officer Rowland is survived by his wife and young son.

Sorry, your browser doesn't support Java(tm).

To the Palmer Police Family of Jim Rowland
I'm sorry my friends
For the pain that you feel
Just know that I've given my all.
I didn't turn and run
As some might have done.
When needed, I answered the call.
With Palmer my home
I pledged to keep safe
Its people, its streets, City Hall.
While you sleep, while you play,
Through the night, through the day,
When needed, I answered the call.
Though gone, I am here,
And forever will be
To protect and to stand, Proud and Tall.
You can live safe and sound
When you know we're around
When needed, we'll answer the call.
Respectfully,
The community you protect

(Grateful acknowledgement and thanks to Brett Kangas, the author of this tribute which was placed at the Officer James Rowland Memorial shortly after Jim's death)

Follow-Up... Anchorage Daily News; 01/23/01

Palmer Police Department

JAMES ARLAND ROWLAND, JR.

December 6, 1968 - May 15, 1999

To the Palmer Police Family of Jim Rowland