Roll of Honor

Prev Next

Patrolman

James Edward Stewart

Ridley Park Borough Police Department — Ridley Park, PA

Felonious

End of Watch August 22, 1931

Age 26

Tour of Duty 1 yrs

The Vigil Panel 62 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Patrolman James Stewart succumbed to injuries received ten days earlier when he was struck by a drunk driver on Chester Pike near Swarthmore Avenue in Ridley Park. Patrolman Stewart had initiated a traffic stop. As he was talking with the driver, another vehicle struck the back of the car and then hit Patrolman Stewart. He landed 30 feet away from the vehicle. Patrolman Stewart died at the Taylor Memorial Hospital. The drunk driver, 23, was charged with manslaughter and sentenced to one to three years in prison. He had served with the Ridley Park Borough Police Department for one year.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-3F5E15A5
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew James. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

You barely got started.
Patrolman Stewart gave the Ridley Park Borough Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Ridley Park community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Stewart.

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

Agency

Department Ridley Park Borough Police Department

Location Ridley Park, PA

Platform Identity rpbpd.delaware.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 22, 1931

Tour of Duty 1 yrs

Age 26

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Offender Sentenced to 1-3 years

Patrolman James Edward Stewart 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 PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

Ridley Park Borough Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

PA — Statewide

597

of 1,261 officers

47.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

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

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How James Edward Stewart Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 1-3 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Edward Stewart is highlighted in Aug.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Edward Stewart was killed by automobile; alcohol involved.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518