James McGiven

New York City Police Department — New York, NY

Felonious

End of Watch July 24, 1876

Age 41

Tour of Duty 23 yrs

The Vigil Panel 5 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1,236

Incident

Sergeant James McGiven died of wounds he received when he was stabbed while attempting to apprehend a thief. A suspect had stolen a watch from a man who was walking on 8th Street, near 2nd Avenue. Several bystanders chased him until the suspect saw a police officer standing on the corner. The man then ran up another street but was confronted by Sergeant McGiven, who was in plainclothes and was walking home from police headquarters. Sergeant McGiven grabbed the suspect by the shoulder and swung him around. As he did so the man pulled out a knife and stabbed Sergeant McGiven in the stomach. Another officer arrested the suspect and identified by Sergeant McGiven before he lapsed into unconsciousness. He was taken to his home, where he died several days later. The suspect was sentenced to life in prison for Sergeant McGiven's murder. While in prison, he committed a second murder, for which he received the death penalty. He was executed on November 4, 1881. Sergeant McGiven was assigned to the 17th Precinct, the present day 9th Precinct.

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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

150 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sergeant McGiven gave the New York Municipal Police Department 23 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department New York City Police Department

Location New York, NY

Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 24, 1876

Tour of Duty 23 yrs

Age 41

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Edged weapon; Knife

Offender Executed in 1881

Sergeant James McGiven 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 NY, 754 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.1% of this state's fallen. That is 19.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At New York City Police Department, 382 of 1237 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 30.9% of this agency's fallen.

New York City Police Department

382

of 1,237 officers

30.9% Felonious

NY — Statewide

754

of 2,147 officers

35.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious