Roll of Honor

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Sergeant

James L. Severin

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch July 17, 1970

Age 38

Tour of Duty 13 yrs

Badge 1319

The Vigil Panel 107 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 570

Incident

Sergeant James L. Severin and Patrolman Tony Rizzato were shot and killed by gang members while patrolling community housing for an all-volunteer "Walk and Talk" project. As the officers proceeded across the Seward Park baseball field, the assailants opened fire from an apartment window. Both officers were mortally wounded in the attack. The purpose of the shooting was to seal a pact between two rival gangs. Three adults and one juvenile were later apprehended and charged with murder. The two shooters, ages 17 and 23, were convicted of murder and sentenced to 100 to 199 years in prison. In 2021, one of his killers was released on parole. Sergeant Severin was a United States Army veteran and had served with the Chicago Police Department for over 13 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his brother and two sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IL-8C7771B7
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. Army. 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.
Sergeant Severin gave the Chicago Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Chicago Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Chicago, Cook County, IL

Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 17, 1970

Tour of Duty 13 yrs

Age 38

Badge Number 1319

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle

Military Service

James L. Severin served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Sergeant James L. Severin 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 IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 63.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Chicago Police Department, 396 of 571 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.4% of this agency's fallen.

Chicago Police Department

396

of 571 officers

69.4% Felonious

IL — Statewide

842

of 1,318 officers

63.9% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious