James J. Riordan
Agency patch
Deputy Superintendent

James J. Riordan

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
End of Watch June 6, 1981
Age 57
Tour of Duty 34 yrs
Badge 103
The Vigil Panel 124 ›
Gender Male

Incident

First Deputy Superindentent James J. Riordan was shot and killed when he confronted an intoxicated person creating a disturbance at 300 North State Street. Deputy Superindentent Riordan was attending a dinner at a restaurant in Marina City when the incident occurred. As he confronted the intoxicated man the offender produced a .380 caliber handgun and shot him in the chest several times. The gunman, who had formerly been a police officer in Iowa, was arrested and convicted of Superintendent Riordan's murder. He was sentenced to life in prison. Deputy Superintendent Riordan had served with the Chicago Police Department for 34 years. He was survived by his wife and seven children. Five of his children went on to serve in law enforcement.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and seven children.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

34 years. You could have gone home.
Deputy Superintendent Riordan gave the Chicago Police Department 34 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Superintendent Riordan.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Chicago, Cook County, IL
Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 6, 1981
Tour of Duty 34 yrs
Age 57
Badge Number 103
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

James is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1981, 126 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 39th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 57. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. James had served 34 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Chicago Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, James among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Deputy Superintendent James J. Riordan

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch June 6, 1981

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 48-E

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