James J. Rivers
Agency patch
Police Officer

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

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

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 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

Type Police Department
Location Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, 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

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

34,117 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 1966, 77 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 91st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 27. 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 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

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

Milwaukee Police Department has 69 officers remembered here, James among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer James J. Rivers

Milwaukee Police Department · End of Watch March 21, 1966

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 45-W

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