James J. Rivers

Milwaukee Police Department — Milwaukee, WI

Felonious

End of Watch March 21, 1966

Age 27

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

The Vigil Panel 101 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 68

Incident

Officer James Rivers was shot and killed while responding to a robbery. When he arrived at the scene, he observed the suspect entering a taxi cab and ordered him to stop. The suspect produced a 9-mm handgun and exchanged shots with Officer Rivers. Officer Rivers was struck in the head but was able to shoot the suspect as well, critically wounding him. The suspect, 29, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life on July 24, 1966. He received an additional 30 years for armed robbery. He was transferred to Central State Mental Hospital in 1972. He died in Winnebago Mental Hospital on July 1, 2004. Officer Rivers had been with the Milwaukee Police Department for nine years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WI-F8BABDD7
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Rivers gave the Milwaukee Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Milwaukee community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Rivers.

— 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 March 21, 1966

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

Age 27

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Died in mental hospital

Police Officer James J. Rivers is one of 17,620 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.1% of all 32,584 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 3.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.1%.

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

17,620

of 32,584 officers

54.1% Felonious