Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective James Skernivitz was shot and killed at about 10:00 pm in the area of West 65th Street and Storer Avenue while working in an undercover capacity as part of a federal task force supporting Operation Legend.
An informant who was with Detective Skernivitz was also killed when three subjects approached the vehicle and attempted to rob them.
Two juveniles and an adult were arrested and charged with aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, and felonious assault. One juvenile was sentenced to six years in a juvenile facility. If he does well in the facility, he will be free when he is 21; if not, he will receive an adult prison sentence of 23 years to life. A 17-year-old subject pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated murder and two counts of robbery and received prison for life with eligibility for parole in 28 years. One adult pleaded guilty to two counts of obstructing justice and one count of tampering with evidence in the case and received 18 months in prison. Another adult faces obstruction of justice charges, and the other subject's trial will be in 2023.
Detective Skernivitz had served with the Cleveland Division of Police for 22 years and was assigned to the Gang Impact Unit and the FBI's Violent Crimes Task Force.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-3BD31D0C- 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
22 years. You could have gone home.
Detective Skernivitz gave the Cleveland Division of Police 22 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Skernivitz.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective James Michael Skernivitz 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 OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Cleveland Division of Police, 83 of 119 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Michael Skernivitz's cause is highlighted.
How James Michael Skernivitz Compares
Offender Outcome
Charged with murder
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Michael Skernivitz is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Michael Skernivitz was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
118 officers from Cleveland Division of Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
