Special Officer Charles C. Riley, Salt Lake City Police Department, Utah

Special Officer Charles C. Riley

Salt Lake City Police Department, Utah

End of Watch Tuesday, October 5, 1909

Add to My Heroes

Charles C. Riley

Officer Charles Riley was shot and killed while attempting to arrest two robbery suspects in downtown Salt Lake City.

The suspects, who had stolen an overcoat from a juvenile, were apprehended in Ogden a week later. One suspect, who admitted to shooting Officer Riley, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. He was paroled on April 17, 1920.

Officer Riley was survived by his wife and child. His unmarked grave finally received a headstone in 2002.

Bio

Age 35
Tour Not available
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Paroled in 1920

arrest attempt

LODD Mapping FAQs

Most Recent Reflection

View all 6 Reflections

Officer Riley was known as an energetic and efficient officer. He loved excitement and was described as someone who "did not know what terror was." His fellow officers remembered him as someone who loved to court danger and held the safety of others in the highest regard.

His murder started an important public discourse in Utah regarding officer safety. Specifically, around a law that prohibited officers from searching suspects before arriving at the police station. An editorial in the Deseret News called for immediate changes to this "ill-advised law." The circumstances surrounding Officer Riley's murder underscored the vulnerability of officers who had to escort potentially armed and desperate criminals without the means to disarm them first.

The murder led to calls to give peace officers "all possible latitude" when dealing with "desperate characters". The argument was that prioritizing officer safety over rigid rules was necessary to prevent similar tragedies. The Police Chief was specifically urged to create new regulations to minimize the risks officers faced when handling violent suspects.

Boxer Kid Frazzles and the Manhattan Athletic Club held a fundraiser for Officer Riley's family. The proceeds from the fight, along with contributions from the Salt Lake City Police Department, helped raise close to four figures for the officer's dependents.

Officer MICHAEL JONES
Utah Department of Corrections

September 21, 2025