Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer James Riley was killed in an automobile accident on Main Street during an undercover moonshine investigation. Although his death was ruled accidental, there is suspicion that foul play was involved in his death. Officer Riley was a United States Air Force veteran who served with the Royal Oak City Police Department for over three years and had previously served with the Detroit Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-7B137567- 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. Air Force. 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 Riley gave the Royal Oak City Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Royal Oak 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
James Leon Riley served in the U.S. Air Force before joining law enforcement.
Officer James Leon Riley is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.
In MI, 229 of 718 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31.9% of this state's fallen. That is 31.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Royal Oak City Police Department, 3 of 3 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Leon Riley's cause is highlighted.
How James Leon Riley Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. James Leon Riley is highlighted in Apr.
Military Service
James Leon Riley served in the U.S. Air Force before joining law enforcement.
Visit James Leon Riley’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Royal Oak City Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
