Roll of Honor

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Officer

James W. McMahon

Southfield Police Department — Southfield, MI

Felonious

End of Watch January 23, 1971

Age 25

Tour of Duty 2 mo

The Vigil Panel 108 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Officer McMahon was killed when he was stuck by a vehicle being operated by an intoxicated driver while he was laying out road flares near an abandoned vehicle. The 39-year-old driver was charged with manslaughter and released after posting a $1500.00 bond.

Survivors

Officer McMahon had been with the agency for two months and was survived by his father, a retired Detroit Police Officer.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MI-2595490B
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.
Officer McMahon served with the Southfield Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Southfield community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer McMahon.

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

Agency

Department Southfield Police Department

Location Southfield, MI

Platform Identity spd.oakland.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 23, 1971

Tour of Duty 2 mo

Age 25

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Offender Charged with manslaughter

Officer James W. McMahon 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 MI, 426 of 718 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.3% of this state's fallen. That is 5.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Southfield Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Southfield Police Department

of 2 officers

50% Felonious

MI — Statewide

426

of 718 officers

59.3% 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 W. McMahon'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 W. McMahon Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

0.2

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Charged with manslaughter

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James W. McMahon is highlighted in Jan.

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 W. McMahon 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

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Southfield Police Department are honored on badge.nw.