Roll of Honor
Incident
Location: New York Weapon: Gun; Unknown type Offender: Not available
Lieutenant James Cribbs was shot and killed as he and other detectives attempted to apprehend several men who were stealing cases of cigarettes from a train in the railyards at Niagara Falls, New York.
The men had unloaded 22 cases of cigarettes and were preparing to load them on a truck when the officers confronted them. The subjects immediately opened fire on the officers, fatally wounding Lieutenant Cribbs.
Lieutenant Cribbs was taken to Mount St. Mary's Hospital where he died several hours later.
Lieutenant Cribbs was survived by his wife and two daughters.
Survivors
Lieutenant Cribbs was survived by his wife and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-B0BD4083- 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.
Lieutenant Cribbs served with the Lehigh Valley Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Bethlehem community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Cribbs.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Lieutenant James L. Cribbs 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 PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Lehigh Valley Railroad Police Department, 2 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James L. Cribbs's cause is highlighted.
How James L. Cribbs Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James L. Cribbs is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James L. Cribbs was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Lehigh Valley Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
