James McGiven

New York Municipal Police — New York City, NY

Felonious

End of Watch July 24, 1876

Age 41

Tour of Duty 23 yrs

The Vigil Panel 16 · Column 2 · Line 6 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 20

Incident

Sergeant James McGiven died of wounds he received when he was stabbed while attempting to apprehend a thief. A suspect had stolen a watch from a man who was walking on 8th Street, near 2nd Avenue. Several bystanders chased him until the suspect saw a police officer standing on the corner. The man then ran up another street but was confronted by Sergeant McGiven, who was in plainclothes and was walking home from police headquarters. Sergeant McGiven grabbed the suspect by the shoulder and swung him around. As he did so the man pulled out a knife and stabbed Sergeant McGiven in the stomach. Another officer arrested the suspect and identified by Sergeant McGiven before he lapsed into unconsciousness. He was taken to his home, where he died several days later. The suspect was sentenced to life in prison for Sergeant McGiven's murder. While in prison, he committed a second murder, for which he received the death penalty. He was executed on November 4, 1881. Sergeant McGiven was assigned to the 17th Precinct, the present day 9th Precinct.

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Last updated: August 2, 2026

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Tributes

150 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sergeant McGiven gave the New York Municipal Police Department 23 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department New York Municipal Police

Type Police Department

Location New York City, NY

Platform Identity nymunpd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 24, 1876

Tour of Duty 23 yrs

Age 41

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Edged weapon

The Sacrifice · Felonious

James is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

See the roll

Compare against

Time

In 1876, 43 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 147th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.

Every year on record · Worldwide

Who

James was 41. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. James had served 23 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

July holds 9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Mondays: 13.8%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon, in 2% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded