Lt. James Marshall Black

Born on May 17th, 1971 in Silver Spring, MD to Randall Marshall Black and Kathryn Pendleton Kenney, James passed away suddenly on September 17th, 2024. His wife, Anne, his children, Katelyn, Victoria, Corey and Connor, his sister, Kathleen, his mother, Kathryn, his many friends and fellow officers, and all those he touched during his 53 years will miss his brilliance, his love and most of all his laughter.

Jim’s career spanned 27 years at the Washington DC Metropolitan Police Department. He graduated from Academy Class 1997-10 and was assigned  to the 6th District. He concluded his tour of duty in the 4th District, where his grandfather had also served. He was known as the go-to guy to connect the dots or for advice. His infectious laugh was often heard echoing the halls of the 4th District station house and throughout PSA 407. His stories, rants and diatribes were legendary amongst his fellow officers and his friends.

Jim was a master storyteller. His ability to find the thread that connected discrete events and turn them into compelling stories crossed from his professional life into his personal. During his tenure at Intel and at the Robbery Intervention Program (RIP), this talent truly came to the forefront looking at broader city-wide crime trends and in the high pressure moments on the street. 

Jim received numerous commendations and awards during his career, recognizing his leadership, tenacious effort and commitment to duty. That ability to turn a tale was also the signature wellspring of his amazing sense of humor. His friends, family and fellow officers will remember the many, many stories which often ended in everyone crying with laughter.

Jim will be remembered as an inspiration, a leader, a mentor, and someone that could always be counted on to have your back. Personally and professionally, he was always the first through the door, ready to help and offer his sometimes indecorous, but always on point advice. Every one of his many lifelong friends has stories about “the time that Jim showed up.”

His kids and his family knew him in the same way. He was relentless as a father–in his jokes, his goofiness, his commitment to showing up and being fully present, and, most of all, his love. Jim would often drive more hours than he slept to show up to see his kids. A thousand and one little things showed his love for Anne, from casually taking her hand to a glance with a smile that wrinkled his blue eyes.

We will miss you so much, Jim—a son, officer, friend, brother, father and husband who lived larger than life and whose impact and legacy will live on.