In Memory Of
James Rowley
New York City Police Department, NY
End of watch: 1983-07-22
Aircraft: Bell 206A
Officer James Rowley and Officer Charles Trojahn were killed when their helicopter was involved in a mid-air collision over Brooklyn. A sea plane struck the rear rotor of the helicopter, causing it to crash. Both officers and two of the four passengers on the sea plane were killed. The float plane was arriving on an air taxi flight to the Wall Street area of Manhattan.
Officer Rowley had been with the NYPD for 17 years. He was 39 years old.
Officer Rowley had been with the NYPD for 17 years. He was 39 years old.
Thoughts and Memories of James Rowley
I worked as a news and traffic reporter for WNBC-AM and Jimmy often piloted our morning and afternoon copter. The night before the tragic accident we had been covering the Diana Ross concert in Central Park. New York City experienced hurricane force winds and we were forced to make an emergency landing, safely, at Kennedy Airport. Jimmy was always professional, always erring on the side of caution and safety. That night he was concerned that his wife and children might worry after we were forced to stop live reporting.
The next morning when I was reporting traffic Jim was flying for NYPD, we saw each other in the air over the East River and waved. He and his partner went on to cover an accident I had just reported over Brooklyn and moments later we received word about the mid-air collision. Jim Rowley is missed by everyone who ever new him.
Jesse Elin Browne
2007-01-05
