Roll of Honor
Incident
Policeman Phillip Riley was shot and killed by a man who grabbed his service revolver following a high-speed chase in Venice. When Officer Riley and his partner initiated a traffic stop, the vehicle sped away. After a short pursuit, the vehicle stopped, and two men ran in different directions. Officer Riley was shot twice in the chest after cornering the suspect on the rocks of the Marina del Rey breakwater. The suspect was arrested after a second high-speed pursuit and a shootout in which he was wounded. The suspect was an inmate out on a 72-hour pass to look for a job at the Institution of Men at Chino. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to 15 years to life on May 3, 1973. Despite being paroled in 1981, he was back in prison for robbery and died of a drug overdose in 1988. Officer Riley had served with the Los Angeles Police Department for three years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, parents, and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-F080BD88- 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.
Policeman Riley gave the Los Angeles Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Policeman Riley.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Policeman Phillip J. Riley 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 Los Angeles Police Department, 115 of 240 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Phillip J. Riley's cause is highlighted.
How Phillip J. Riley Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 15 years to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Phillip J. Riley is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Phillip J. Riley was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
239 officers from Los Angeles Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
