He was one of the most important people in St. Petersburg when the city was founded in 1903. But where he is buried and why he has never been honored has been a mystery—until now.

  • St. Pete's first police chief receives burial ceremony after 100 years
  • James Mitchell appointed police chief in 1903, died in 1905
  • Mitchell died in the line of duty

The city’s first Police Chief, James Mitchell, is finally getting the recognition he deserves.

“While there were only a handful of officers in the department at that time, the chief was an active chief,” Mayor Rick Kriseman said.

Mitchell was appointed in 1903 while the ink was still drying on the city’s charter, and only served until 1905.

An attacker on Christmas Day stabbed him the back. Although news spread fast through the city of 1,600 people, there was no ceremonial burial for the chief and no tombstone.

Detective Brian Bilbrey said it wasn’t until he posted on Facebook commemorating the chief’s holiday death that he and the city realized what hadn’t been done.

“And I forget exactly who the person was, they said, ‘How come no one’s ever taken care of him not having a tombstone?’ and I said, ‘You know what, he’s right,” Bilbrey said.

With the help from the Heroes of the St. Petersburg Police Foundation, a proper headstone was purchased.

“He died in the line of duty. He died being a chief out there working the holiday with his troops, what every chief should be doing,” St. Pete Police Chief Anthony Holloway said.

The cemetery where Mitchell is buried is the city’s oldest cemetery. The land is hallowed ground and carries a lot of history.

The city’s first mayor is buried there and it’s one of the only cemeteries where both Union and Confederate soldiers lay side by side.

The department held a burial ceremony Friday for Chief Mitchell to honor his service and sacrifice. 

“Well this is one of the times when you feel good about something. You’re not actually putting somebody in jail. You’re not doing the things that people don’t like police officers for. We’re doing something nice for somebody. It feels good,” Bilbrey said.

Next week is National Police Week.