Roll of Honor
Dennis E. Riley
Incident
Detective Dennis Riley was shot and killed after intervening in a barroom dispute across from his agency's headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. After breaking up the dispute he was followed out of the saloon and confronted at gunpoint at the intersection of Kinzie Street and Wells Street. Detective Riley did not have a chance to draw his own weapon and was shot twice. The suspect stayed on the scene after the shooting claiming he shot Detective Riley in self-defense. The suspect was arrested and charged with murder. Detective Riley had served with the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Police Department for five years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-70C41F25- 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
128 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Detective Riley gave the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Dennis E. 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 IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 9.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Police Department, 14 of 18 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 77.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Dennis E. Riley's cause is highlighted.
How Dennis E. Riley Compares
Offender Outcome
Arrested
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Dennis E. Riley is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Dennis E. Riley was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
17 officers from Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
