Age: 26

Patrolman Riley may have been in the first year of his career when, on March 8, 1887, he and other officers were on their way to conduct a raid on a groggery (tavern of ill-repute) on “Rat Row” (in the unsavory area of the riverfront) in which a crap game was in action.  More than likely, they responded to the stationhouse first and checked out some .36 caliber Navy Colt percussion revolvers for which they may have had no holsters (Cincinnati law enforcement officers were not permitted to carry firearms otherwise).  On the way to the groggery, a revolver fell from the pocket of a fellow officer, discharged upon striking the ground, sending a round into Patrolman Riley and killing him.

We do not know much else about Patrolman Riley and his family except that he was buried in St. Joseph’s (New) Cemetery in Price Hill.

Note:  Policemen were not permitted to carry revolvers in most agencies until the late 1880s.  Naturally, a number of these were dropped and physics dictated that they fall toward the heavier end.  Sometimes, they dropped directly on the hammer with the barrel pointed up.  This circumstance is the cause of four officers’ deaths.  In the first decade of the 20th Century, the hammer block safety was invented and no more regional officers died from accidentally dropped revolvers.

If you have further information, artifacts, or pictures of this officer, please contact the Museum Director at Director@GCPHS.com.