James F. Ryan

Cleveland Division of Police — Cleveland, OH

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch January 8, 1931

Age 40

Tour of Duty 23 yrs

The Vigil Panel 61 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 118

Incident

Patrolman James Ryan was shot and killed while he and his partner, Patrolman John Cleary, attempted to apprehend several robbery suspects. The officers had located one of the suspects in a rooming house at 1714 W 25th Street in Cleveland, and the man agreed to show them what room the others were in. When the officers went to the room, they were met by an undressed woman who refused to let them in. The officers forced entry, and Officer Ryan began searching the room. When he opened a closet door, he was confronted by the suspect at gunpoint. Patrolman Ryan attempted to draw his weapon and was shot several times. The suspect then ran into the hallway and shot Patrolman Cleary, severing his spine. Although wounded, Patrolman Ryan was able to chase the suspect a short distance and shoot him. The suspect ran to a nearby house, where he collapsed due to a loss of blood. Other officers had followed the blood trail to the house and arrested the man. Patrolman Ryan was transported to Fairview Hospital where he was able to identify the suspect before succumbing to his wounds. Patrolman Cleary was hospitalized and remained in a wheelchair until succumbing to his wounds 7 years later. The suspect, who was an escaped convict, was executed on April 22, 1932. Patrolman Ryan was a WWI veteran and served with the Cleveland Division of Police for 23 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-6569CC82
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Ryan gave the Cleveland Division of Police 23 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Cleveland Division of Police

Location Cleveland, OH

Platform Identity cdpd.cuyahoga.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 8, 1931

Tour of Duty 23 yrs

Age 40

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Executed in 1932

Military Service

James F. Ryan served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman James F. Ryan 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.

Cleveland Division of Police

of 119 officers

69.7% Felonious

OH — Statewide

572

of 991 officers

57.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious