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Patrolman

James Francis Goggin

Cleveland Division of Police — Cleveland, OH

Felonious

End of Watch January 13, 1939

Age 51

Tour of Duty 19 yrs

Badge 839

The Vigil Panel 163 · Column 4 · Line 20 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 118

Incident

Patrolman James Goggin was shot and killed by a robbery suspect. Patrolman Goggin and his partner responded to an alarm, and each went to different businesses, as the alarm wasn't specific. Patrolman Goggin went to the Sach Store. He found a robber holding a knife to the throat of Isadore Sach, asking him to find "more" money in the safe. Another robber was ordering people to the basement of the store. One of the robbers started shooting, hit Patrolman Goggin, and then ran to an exit. Patrolman Goggin fell in the middle of an aisle, and the second robber ran past him. The wounded patrolman was able to shoot at the second robber. This robber got as far as the street and fell dead at the curb. Two other robbers escaped. Patrolman Goggin had been shot twice; one bullet hit his stomach and another on his left side. His partner heard the gunshots and came over and called out to him but got no response. He then called for an ambulance four minutes after the alarm had sounded. A description of the two escaped robbers was circulated, and they were arrested. Both were sentenced to life and later died in prison. Patrolman Goggin had served 19 years with the Cleveland Division of Police. He was survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters. He was buried in Calvary Cemetery.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

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Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Goggin gave the Cleveland Division of Police 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Goggin.

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

Agency

Department Cleveland Division of Police

Type Other

Location Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, OH

Platform Identity cdpd.cuyahoga.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 13, 1939

Tour of Duty 19 yrs

Age 51

Badge Number 839

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

James is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1939, 82 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 78th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

James was 51. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. James had served 19 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month

By day of the week

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