Fallen Officer James Shannon 100th Anniversary

On Saturday April 4th, 1925, Officer James Shannon was shot and killed in front of a house at 3357 Williams Street. He was 26 years old. He was shot in his left side and the bullet traveled to his heart. He died almost instantly. 

James E. Shannon was born in Colorado on January 17, 1899, the fifth of seven children born to Thomas and Anna Lyons Shannon who were born in Ireland. He grew up in north Denver and joined the Denver Police Department in March 1920. He married Philomena (Minnie) F. Losasso on May 10, 1924, in Denver and they lived at 1533 W. 34th Ave. His wife had a premonition that evening and begged him not to go to work. They were just five weeks away from celebrating their first wedding anniversary.

He was survived by his wife, parents, several siblings and many friends. Recitation of the rosary was held the evening of April 7 at the home of his parents at 1729 W. 38th Ave. Requiem mass was held the next morning at St. Patrick’s church at 33rd and Pecos, with burial following at Mount Olivet cemetery. Police pallbearers were Sergeant D. J. Sullivan and Patrolmen George Nagor, Fred Pizzichino, Charles Quinlan, John O’Donnell and A. Pyles.

The suspect, identified as Albert Dorchak, 18, was charged with Officer Shannon’s murder and entered a not-guilty plea. The trial began on April 27 and he was convicted two days later. It took the jury 21 ballots to finally recommend a life sentence and not the death penalty. His appeal was denied and he arrived at the state penitentiary on May 17, 1925 as prisoner 12955. He was paroled July 23, 1937 but his parole was revoked by Governor Teller Ammons on October 11, 1938 and he was returned to prison on October 18, 1938. He was paroled again on March 11, 1952 and died in Denver on January 19, 1966 at age 59.