James E. Maroney
Agency patch
Officer

James E. Maroney

California Highway Patrol — Sacramento, CA
Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch May 27, 1955
Age 33
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
The Vigil Panel 91 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer James Maroney was shot and killed while assisting Modoc County deputies in the arrest of an ex-convict in Alturas. Two days earlier the suspect had been released from the Oregon State Penitentiary where he had served a sentence for rape. When his victim reported that he was at her home, Officer Maroney responded there with deputies. As officers approached, the suspect opened fire with a rifle. Officer Maroney ducked behind a power pole, but was hit by a bullet that went through the pole, killing him instantly. The suspect then shot and killed himself. Officer Maroney was a United States Marine Corps veteran who had served with the California Highway Patrol for three years and previously served with the Oakland Police Department for five years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-42A8B758
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Marine Corps. One record, 2 gates. James is one person.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Officer Maroney gave the California Highway Patrol 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of California, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Highway Patrol
Location Sacramento, CA
Platform Identity chp.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 27, 1955
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Age 33
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle

Military Service

James E. Maroney served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Officer James E. Maroney is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.

In CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 53 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At California Highway Patrol, 71 of 233 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 30.5% of this agency's fallen.

California Highway Patrol
71
of 233 officers
30.5% Felonious
CA — Statewide
974
of 1,837 officers
53% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,759 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James E. Maroney's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How James E. Maroney Compares

Age at Death
33
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
8
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James E. Maroney is highlighted in May.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James E. Maroney was killed by rifle.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Military Service

James E. Maroney served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.

Visit James E. Maroney’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.