James E. Maroney

California Highway Patrol — Sacramento, CA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch May 27, 1955

Age 33

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

The Vigil Panel 91 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 232

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: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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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

Department California 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

Offender Committed suicide

Military Service

James E. Maroney served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Officer James E. Maroney 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 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 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

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

of 233 officers

30.5% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious