Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Riley and Officer Thomas Matulis were shot and killed while attempting to intervene with a disorderly man outside of a local bar. The two officers were off-duty and leaving a baseball game when they observed the man. As they attempted to calm the man he produced a handgun and shot both officers. The suspect was convicted of two counts of murder but had the convictions overturned on appeal by claiming self defense. Officer Riley had been with the agency for six years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WI-DDE0DB05- 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.
Police Officer Riley gave the Milwaukee Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Milwaukee community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Riley.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Robert D. Riley 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 WI, 159 of 317 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50.2% of this state's fallen. That is 50.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Milwaukee Police Department, 42 of 69 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert D. Riley's cause is highlighted.
How Robert D. Riley Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert D. Riley is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert D. Riley was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
68 officers from Milwaukee Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
