Robert D. Riley

Milwaukee Police Department — Milwaukee, WI

Felonious

End of Watch July 10, 1974

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

The Vigil Panel 114 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 68

Incident

Officer Riley and Officer Thomas Matulis were shot and killed while attempting to intervene with a disorderly man outside of a local bar. The two officers were off-duty and leaving a baseball game when they observed the man. As they attempted to calm the man he produced a handgun and shot both officers. The suspect was convicted of two counts of murder but had the convictions overturned on appeal by claiming self defense. Officer Riley had been with the agency for six years.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-WI-DDE0DB05
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.
Police Officer Riley gave the Milwaukee Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Milwaukee community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Riley.

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

Agency

Department Milwaukee Police Department

Location Milwaukee, WI

Platform Identity mpd.milwaukee.wi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 10, 1974

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Acquitted

Police Officer Robert D. 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 WI, 159 of 317 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50.2% of this state's fallen. That is 4 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Milwaukee Police Department, 42 of 69 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.9% of this agency's fallen.

Milwaukee Police Department

of 69 officers

60.9% Felonious

WI — Statewide

159

of 317 officers

50.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious