James A. Stevens
Agency patch
Detective

James A. Stevens

Rensselaer Police Department — Rensselaer, NY
Felonious
End of Watch May 29, 1933
Age 65
The Vigil Panel 66 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective James Stevens and Sergeant Frederick Rabe were shot and fatally wounded while responding to a bank robbery committed by the Scarnici Gang from New York City. The two officers were shot as the gang attempted to come out of the bank at 810 Broadway. Detective Stevens died at the scene and Sergeant Rabe succumbed to his wounds six years later on September 1st, 1939. Two of the subjects were shot and killed during the incident. Three members of the gang were eventually caught in Poughkeepsie, New York. One was executed on June 27th, 1935. The other two were acquitted.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-783F79D9
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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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Stevens served with the Rensselaer Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Rensselaer community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Stevens.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Rensselaer, NY
Platform Identity rpd.rensselaer.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 29, 1933
Age 65
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Detective James A. Stevens 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 97,772 officers honored here.

In NY, 728 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.9% of this state's fallen. That is 33.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Rensselaer Police Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Rensselaer Police Department
2
of 3 officers
66.7% Felonious
NY — Statewide
728
of 2,147 officers
33.9% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James A. Stevens's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How James A. Stevens Compares

Age at Death
65
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James A. Stevens is highlighted in May.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James A. Stevens was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Rensselaer Police Department are honored on badge.nw.