Thomas J. Riley

Cambridge Police Department — Cambridge, MA

Felonious

End of Watch November 20, 1920

Age 34

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

The Vigil Panel 40 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 11

Incident

Patrolman Riley was shot and killed while trying to disperse a group of drunk men. As he turned to leave one of the men produced a revolver and shot Patrolman Riley in the head. Patrolman Riley had been with the agency for eight years. A 25-year-old suspect was arrested, convicted of murder, and sentenced to death. Governor Channing H. Cox commuted his sentence to life. He was pardoned on December 24, 1953.

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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.
Patrolman Riley gave the Cambridge Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cambridge community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Riley.

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

Agency

Department Cambridge Police Department

Location Cambridge, MA

Platform Identity cambpd.middlesex.ma.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 20, 1920

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

Age 34

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; Revolver

Offender Pardoned in 1953

Patrolman Thomas 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 MA, 199 of 469 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.4% of this state's fallen. That is 11.8 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Cambridge Police Department, 3 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.

Cambridge Police Department

of 12 officers

25% Felonious

MA — Statewide

199

of 469 officers

42.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious