James H. Nerison

Alhambra Police Department — Alhambra, CA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch January 3, 1933

Age 30

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 65 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Police Officer James Nerison was shot and killed while he and three other officers attempted to arrest a man who was attempting to blow the safe at the Alhambra Theater, at the intersection of Atlantic Boulevard and Main Street. The man fled through a side door where an accomplice was waiting. They opened fire with sawed-off shotguns fatally wounding Officer Nerison as they made their escape. The men had just robbed two other theaters and had stolen a total of $2,500. They also shot and wounded a Los Angeles detective during one of the other robberies. The suspects were never apprehended. Officer Nersison was a U.S. Army veteran of WWI and had served with the Alhambra Police Department for four years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-50FE53B4
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

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.
Police Officer Nerison gave the Alhambra Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Alhambra community, 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 Alhambra Police Department

Location Alhambra, CA

Platform Identity alhapd.losangeles.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 3, 1933

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 30

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Offender At large

Military Service

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

Police Officer James H. Nerison 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 Alhambra Police Department, 2 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Alhambra Police Department

of 4 officers

50% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious