Sergeant James McGiven

James McGiven

Sergeant James McGiven died of wounds he received when he was stabbed while attempting to apprehend a thief.

A suspect had stolen a watch from a man who was walking on 8th Street, near 2nd Avenue. Several bystanders chased him until the suspect saw a police officer standing on the corner. The man then ran up another street but was confronted by Sergeant McGiven, who was in plainclothes and was walking home from police headquarters. Sergeant McGiven grabbed the suspect by the shoulder and swung him around. As he did so the man pulled out a knife and stabbed Sergeant McGiven in the stomach.

Another officer arrested the suspect and identified by Sergeant McGiven before he lapsed into unconsciousness. He was taken to his home, where he died several days later.

The suspect was sentenced to life in prison for Sergeant McGiven's murder. While in prison, he committed a second murder, for which he received the death penalty. He was executed on November 4, 1881.

Sergeant McGiven was assigned to the 17th Precinct, the present day 9th Precinct.