James A. Harvey
Agency patch
Detective

James A. Harvey

Syracuse Police Department — Syracuse, NY
Felonious
End of Watch August 1, 1893
Tour of Duty 24 yrs
The Vigil Panel 12 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Harvey was shot and killed when he attempted to arrest two suspected burglars. Detective Harvey was in the act of making the arrest when one of the suspects turned around and drew a revolver. He then shot Detective Harvey in the head, killing him instantly. The two suspects were chased by several citizens who apprehended one suspect and turned him over to the police. The suspect was convicted of Detective Harvey's murder and executed on May 14, 1894. Detective Harvey had served with the Syracuse Police Department for 24 years. He had previously served as chief of the agency.

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

133 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Detective Harvey gave the Syracuse Police Department 24 years.
Thank you for your service to the Syracuse community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Syracuse, Onondaga County, NY
Platform Identity spd.onondaga.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 1, 1893
Tour of Duty 24 yrs
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 1893, 76 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 92nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James had served 24 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

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

Syracuse Police Department has 12 officers remembered here, James among them.

Detective James A. Harvey

Syracuse Police Department · End of Watch August 1, 1893

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 7-E

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