James Michael Skernivitz
Agency patch
Detective

James Michael Skernivitz

Cleveland Division of Police — Cleveland, OH
Felonious
End of Watch September 3, 2020
Age 53
Tour of Duty 22 yrs
The Vigil Panel 172 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective James Skernivitz was shot and killed at about 10:00 pm in the area of West 65th Street and Storer Avenue while working in an undercover capacity as part of a federal task force supporting Operation Legend.

An informant who was with Detective Skernivitz was also killed when three subjects approached the vehicle and attempted to rob them.

Two juveniles and an adult were arrested and charged with aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, and felonious assault. One juvenile was sentenced to six years in a juvenile facility. If he does well in the facility, he will be free when he is 21; if not, he will receive an adult prison sentence of 23 years to life. A 17-year-old subject pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated murder and two counts of robbery and received prison for life with eligibility for parole in 28 years. One adult pleaded guilty to two counts of obstructing justice and one count of tampering with evidence in the case and received 18 months in prison. Another adult faces obstruction of justice charges, and the other subject's trial will be in 2023.

Detective Skernivitz had served with the Cleveland Division of Police for 22 years and was assigned to the Gang Impact Unit and the FBI's Violent Crimes Task Force.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

22 years. You could have gone home.
Detective Skernivitz gave the Cleveland Division of Police 22 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Skernivitz.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, OH
Platform Identity cdpd.cuyahoga.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 3, 2020
Tour of Duty 22 yrs
Age 53
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

33,917 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 2020, 61 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 123rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 53. 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 22 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

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; unknown type, in 9.5% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Cleveland Division of Police has 119 officers remembered here, James among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective James Michael Skernivitz

Cleveland Division of Police · End of Watch September 3, 2020

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 20-E

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