Prev Next
James J. Sullivan
Agency patch
Officer

James J. Sullivan

Omaha Police Department — Omaha, NE
Felonious
United States flag Nebraska flag
End of Watch April 4, 1931
Age 31
The Vigil Panel 137 · Column 3 · Line 15 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 24

Incident

Officer James Sullivan was shot and killed while conducting a robbery stakeout at a local service station at S 30th Street and Parker Street. He was concealed inside a small room in the service station when two suspects entered and attempted to rob the attendant. The suspects heard Officer Sullivan and then exchanged shots with him. Officer Sullivan was shot four times and fatally wounded. One of the suspects was arrested along with his brother who drove the getaway car four days later. The third suspect, a 17-year-old juvenile, was captured in Stockton, California, one week later. The suspect who drove the getaway car was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The other two were convicted of Officer Sullivan's murder and sentenced to life in prison on April 29, 1931. In 1940 the sentence of one of the suspects was reduced to 22 years.

Survivors

Officer Sullivan was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtncsq8rxdn3wqn4px6fy
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew James. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Sullivan served with the Omaha Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Omaha community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Sullivan.

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

Agency

Department Omaha Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Omaha, Douglas County, NE
Platform Identity opd.douglas.ne.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 4, 1931
Age 31
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

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.

  3. See the roll
  4. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1931, 221 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 31. 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.

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

When

April holds 8.4% 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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Omaha Police Department has 25 officers remembered here, James among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer James J. Sullivan

Omaha Police Department · End of Watch April 4, 1931

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 41-W

↑