Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Sergeant James L. Severin

Chicago Police Department, Illinois

End of Watch Friday, July 17, 1970

Leave a Reflection

Reflections for Sergeant James L. Severin

54 years…..hard to believe. One perp out because of DEI incompetents on the Illinois Parole Board but one perp with a 5 year set after said board was overhauled by citizen outrage. I’m hoping he will die before next parole hearing since I'm 68 and tired. Never forget!

Jean M (Severin) Cabel
Niece

July 17, 2024

Why would they release one perp after so long especially after laws back then no parole.

Rev Steven M Bastean

November 4, 2022

52 years and one killer was released already. Both murderers given 100-300 years but now the politics in Illinois are stumbling left causing the Illinois Parole Board to illegally retry the case and release these murderers back to the streets. In two weeks the other murderer goes in front of parole board. Hopefully he will be kept in but no one is holding their breath. We tried Uncle Jim

Jean Severin Cabel

July 17, 2022

Thanks for always looking out for me when I was a Chicago Police Cadet at Area 6 Task Force in 1970. I've thought of you and Tony often over the years. You will never be forgotten.

Deputy Chief Patrick Pender - Retired
Mundelein Police Department

February 28, 2021

Thanks for always looking out for me when I was a Chicago Police Cadet assigned to Area 6 Task Force. I've thought of you and Tony often over the years. You will never be forgotten.

Deputy Chief Patrick Pender - Retired
Mundelein Police Department

February 28, 2021

CANNOT EVEN BELIEVE 50 YEARS,I AM SO SO SORRY SEVERIN FAMILY.

I GUESS YOUR DAD FINALLY HAD HIS REQUEST GRANTED, MY FAMILY IS GOING TO ACCEPT THE CITY AWARD.

KATHLEEN JURKOWSKI
LT.DENNIS JURKOWSKI'S WIFE

September 23, 2020

Thank you for your service and please know that your sacrifice is one that will never, ever be forgotten by your LE brethren. Rest in peace always.

Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police (Retired)

July 17, 2020

Rest in peace Sergeant Severin.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

June 13, 2020

49 years ........ I was a child when you were killed and now I’m 63 and still attending Parole Hearings to keep your two remaining killers in prison.

Jeanne Severin-Cabel

July 17, 2019

Cannot believe how fast time goes by, but not the memory of the most horrific day in my husband's life. I realize how many CPD have been killed since then, but cannot think of one officer let alone 2 GUNNED DOWN ON A BASEBALL FIELD AND THEN BEING USED FOR TARGET PRACTICE. \ til the day he died he never forgot.
Thank you JEAN SEVERIN, niece. for keeping his memory alive.

Kathleen Jurkowski
wife of Lieut. Dennis Juekowski

July 2, 2019

The ultimate sacrifice of our Chicago Police brothers Jim and Tony will, "Never Be Forgotten."
Rest in Peace.
48 years... 17 July 2018

Sgt. Al
CPD ret

July 17, 2018

48 years......... thinking of you today and the honor of your service to the city of Chicago. The ultimate sacrifice.

Jeanne Cabel
Niece

July 17, 2018

We recently had another parole hearing for one of the men convicted of killing my Uncle Jim. Parole and denied and for the first time we received a 5 year set meaning we won't have to deal with this until the year 2022. The Severin Family is absolutely thrilled with the Illinois Parole Boards decision to protect the family.

Jeanne Cabel
Niece of Sgt. Jim Severin

June 29, 2017

47 years ago…… We are still honoring you Uncle Jim by not missing one parole hearing. We have two more parole hearings in 2017. The Severins will never forget. The Severins will always attend the parole hearings until both offenders die in prison.

Jeanne Severin Cabel

July 17, 2016

Sgt. Severin Jeanne, I, and the rizzato children were at your murders parole hearings this year and speaking for myself I'll be there again in three years. You and my brother-in-law were assassinated. Both shot from the eleventh story of Cabrini Green in the backs with rifles, as the states attorney said, literally blowing Ptlmn Rizzato's (my brother-in-law) heart right out of his chest. While on a community relations project called Walk & Talk, on a little league baseball field with children every, teaching them how to play baseball. Yes, Sgt. Severin I promise I'll be there in three years. Now this has happened in New York to two officers on patrol. How I pray for their familes for what they are going through. My husband was Ptlmn Rizzato's brother and also a Chicago Police officer. Nick was working with you Sgt. Severin and his brother Ptlmn Tony Rizzato. He never recovered from this.

Marilyn Rizzato-Reines
sister-in-law

December 23, 2014

Rest in peace Sergeant James L. Severin, I will say some prayers for the family. I worked at Cabrini Green as a Gang Crimes Specialists and I and my partners had Sergeant James L. Severin and Officer Anthony Rizzato in our thoughts and prayers everyday. Cabrini Green with its Gangs and Snipers was a combat zone, we worked there from 1987 thru to May 1981, made many many arreast and confiscated over 660 various weapons during that time.

Detective Greg Zito C P D retired
Worked Cabrini Green Housing from 1978 thru to May 1981

June 5, 2014

In memory of Sergeant James Severin and Officer Anthony Rizzato, As I had stated, my partners and I worked Cabrini Green Housing, from 1978 thru to May 1981 and made many arrests, of gang members and confiscated over 660 weapons. We were pinned down at various areas with the Cabrini Green Housing area. Our Guardian Angels were watching over us. I wrote a book and recently I hired a new publisher to re-publish the book. History of Street Cops
May Sergeant James Severin and Officer Anthony Rizzato never be forgotten, and may they rest in peace

Detective Greg Zito C P D retired
Worked Cabrini Green Housing from 1978 thru to May 1981

May 29, 2014

To the families of Sergeant James Severin and Officer Anthony Rizzato, rest in peace Officers and may your memories live on forever. I and my partners worked Cabrini Green Housing area from April 1978 thru to May 1981. We confiscated many, many weapons and arrested many Gang Members, also arrested a total of 5 snipers, we did so in your memory. There was not a day that went by that we didn't think of our fellow Officers. These are the partners from Gang Crimes Disision, William Mokstad, Bill Connor, Joe Juhas, Jack Dugan, Mike Hurley, Joe Sparks, Joe Fallon, Rich Obertuck, Johnny Matthews and myself Greg Zito. God bless you both.

Gang Crimes Specialist Greg Zito
Chicago Police Department Gang Unit

July 20, 2013

Today is the 43rd anniversary of your murder. I think that would like that we go down to the 18th every year around this time to serve lunch to the officers that walk the same ground that you did. We will never forget your honor and your dedication to the job. Say hi to Dad.

Jeanne Severin Cabel
Niece

July 17, 2013

this date seems to come around faster every year with memories that cannot be erased. I truly commend the family of Sgt.Severin for keeping his memory alive and letting people know that the police are not the enemy.These two ifficers proved that the horrible day.

kathleen jurkowski, wife
Lt. Dennis Jurkowski

July 9, 2013

My brother-in-law Ptlmn. Anthony N. Rizzato #12407 and Nickalos R. Rizzato #12174 who is also deceased now and was my husband were both co-workers with Sgt. Severin in Cabrini Green's Chicago Police Department "Walk and Talk " Community Relations Program. Both brothers were working together 17 July 1970.
I have many many newspaper articles and pictures of that day and am more than willing to share copies with those who were involved either at the scene or interested family members who had relatives involved that day.
I say this for you Kathleen Jurkowski, I know your husband was one of the officers also working "Walk and Talk" and involved that day. Please feel free to contact me.
I was called on the phone three times during this incident by my husband. Nick called from the maintance shed close to the ballfield he knew there was a phone inside. It was horrific.

Marilyn E. Rizzato-Reines
Anthony N. Rizzato's sister-in-law

June 19, 2013

17 July 1970, 43 years since you and I met in the 18th District Tactical office before proceeding to Cabrini to engage in the "Walk & Talk" program with our respective teams. What followed is history. What I must relate to your family is that I never in my 55 years in law enforcement ever worked with a more dedicated Police Officer who believed in what he was doing. Your tenacious efforts to keep Jim and Tony Rizzato's killers where they belong is beyond exemplary. I am sure Jim is proud of you, I know I am. May they rest in peace.

Dpty Supt (retired) Ed Wodnicki
Chicago Police Department

May 1, 2013

Rest in Peace, Sergeant Severin. Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Officer 11169

April 27, 2012

Thank you for leaving a reflection. Believe it or not one of the murderers has requested Executive Clemency and the hearing will take place April 10, 2012 at the IL State Building on Dearborn at 9:00. I believe the inmate has found a loophole since the set back between parole hearing is now 5 years. The family apprecaites the reflections left by the officers that served. Thank you.

Jeanne Severin Cabel
Niece of Jim Severin

March 27, 2012

I was assigned to Cabrini Green Housing from 1978 thru to April 1981, I anad my partners did all the Intelligence work, identifing the major Gangs, the El Rukins, Cobra Stones, Black Disciples and Gangster Disciples.
My name is Greg Zito # 13031, my partneres Bill Mokstad, Bill Connor, Joe Juhas, Mike HUrley, Jack Dugan, Joe Fallen Joe Sparks, these officers assisted us after the first two weeks at Cabrini Green, we were involved in two Gang wars and consficated over 40 guns in two weeks, consficated or recovered over 167 guns in the first six months at Cabrini Green Housing, we walked the field were Sergeant Severin and Officer Rizzato were shot and killed by snipers, on Friday 17, 1970.During our years assigned at Cabrini Green 1978 thru to April 1981, we arrested five snipers in action of them sniping incident people and Police Officers, we also recovered their weapons . We confiscated over 600 various weapons from Cabrin Green Housing units from 1978 thru to April 1981

Detective and also Gang Crime Specialist
Greg Zito Gang Crimes Division North

January 30, 2012

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