Cleveland Division of Police, Ohio
End of Watch Thursday, September 3, 2020
Add to My HeroesJames Michael Skernivitz
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. He is survived by his wife and three children.
Bio
- Age 53
- Tour 22 years
- Badge 2249
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Gun; Unknown type
- Offender Charged with murder
Most Recent Reflection
View all 94 ReflectionsMay God and St. Michael watch over you in Heaven, Detective Skernivitz.
Patrolman Kenneth Collins
South Amherst Police Department
September 3, 2023
Recent LODD Deaths
Sergeant Bill Hooser
Santaquin Police Department, UT
EOW: May 5, 2024
Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas M. Weeks
United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service, US
EOW: April 29, 2024
Investigator William "Alden" Elliott
North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, NC
EOW: April 29, 2024
Investigator Samuel Poloche
North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, NC
EOW: April 29, 2024
Police Officer Joshua Eyer
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, NC
EOW: April 29, 2024
Police Officer Russell Croxton
Dubach Police Department, LA
EOW: April 27, 2024
Sergeant Ian Taylor
Billerica Police Department, MA
EOW: April 26, 2024
Police Officer Kyle Hicks
Corpus Christi Police Department, TX
EOW: April 24, 2024
Investigator John Hampton Coddou, III
Harris County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: April 23, 2024