James Ryan McCandless

Rapid City Police Dept. — Rapid City, SD

Felonious

End of Watch August 2, 2011

Age 28

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

The Vigil Panel 160 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 7

Incident

Officer J. Ryan McCandless and Officer Nick Armstrong were shot and killed as they and another officer questioned four suspicious subjects at the intersection of East Anamosa and Greenbriar Streets at about 4:30 pm.

After several minutes, a male subject in the group pulled out a concealed handgun and opened fire, striking all three officers before being wounded by return fire. The subject was shot and fatally wounded.

All three officers were transported to a local hospital in critical condition. Officer McCandless was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at the hospital, and Officer Nick Armstrong succumbed to his wounds five days later.

Officer McCandless had served with the Rapid City Police Department for six years.

Survivors

He is survived by his fiancée, parents, and sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-SD-DE542975
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.
Police Officer McCandless gave the Rapid City Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Rapid City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer McCandless.

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

Agency

Department Rapid City Police Dept.

Location Rapid City, SD

Platform Identity rpd.pennington.sd.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 2, 2011

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Age 28

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and killed

Police Officer James Ryan McCandless 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 SD, 36 of 62 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.1% of this state's fallen. That is 3.9 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Rapid City Police Dept., 5 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.5% of this agency's fallen.

Rapid City Police Dept.

of 8 officers

62.5% Felonious

SD — Statewide

of 62 officers

58.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious