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Detective Sergeant

James Maher

New York City Police Department — New York, NY

Felonious

End of Watch July 27, 1919

Age 35

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

The Vigil Panel 37 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1,236

Incident

Detective James Maher was shot and killed after responding to the San Remo Hotel to investigate a murder.

Detective Maher went to the hotel at the corner of Central Park West and Seventy-Fourth Street, Manhattan, to investigate a murder. After arriving at the hotel, Detective Maher found that the hotel watchman had shot and killed another employee after an argument. Detective Maher went to the room of the hotel owner to call a description of the suspect into police headquarters. As he and the manager exited the room, the suspect, who was hiding in a closet in the room, jumped out and shot Detective Maher, killing him. It is thought that the suspect shot Detective Maher thinking he was the hotel owner.

The suspect fled through the hotel but was cornered by a United States Army Lieutenant who was staying at the hotel. With nowhere to run, the suspect shot and killed himself.

Detective Mahr had served with the New York City Police Department for ten years and was assigned to the 20th Precinct. He was survived by his wife, mother, four brothers, and three sisters. One of his brothers was a retired Lieutenant with the New York City Police Department.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, mother, four brothers, and three sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-E27886FE
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Sergeant Maher gave the New York City Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Maher.

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

Agency

Department New York City Police Department

Location New York, NY

Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 27, 1919

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 35

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Committed Suicide

Detective Sergeant James Maher is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In NY, 754 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.1% of this state's fallen. That is 19.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At New York City Police Department, 382 of 1237 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 30.9% of this agency's fallen.

New York City Police Department

382

of 1,237 officers

30.9% Felonious

NY — Statewide

754

of 2,147 officers

35.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious