James Edward Riley, age 77, died on September 9th, 2021, after a long struggle to recover from a series of brain strokes that began four years ago. Mr. Riley is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 36 years, Mary Helen, three children: Little Jim, James Michael, Johnquesha and 5 Stepchildren James, Michael, Delores, Gary, and Samuel. He also had a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. James Edward Riley was born on July 16th, 1944 to Joseph and Iona B. Riley in Reveilletown, LA, a small town founded by freed slaves in 1870 which sits right outside the seat of government in Iberville Parish. Raised as the middle child of eleven children (seven boys and four girls), James was an independent, active and precocious youth. He graduated high school and worked in and around New Orleans for a year before shipping off to the military at the age of 19. James was a veteran of the Vietnam War. In 1964, James' desire was to join the US Army to explore his love of maps. However, at the time, they would not allow him to join because his older brother, Joseph Jr. was already enlisted there. Because of that denial, he joined the United States Navy. In four years of service, he reached the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class serving as a Storekeeper and working cross-functionally in the Photography department. In 1968, he received an honorable discharge from the Navy. For his conduct, his superiors allowed him to leave ten days before his contracted end date. He had applied for and been accepted to join the upcoming class at the San Diego Police Academy. At the end of twenty-nine years of service, he retired in 1997 as a Detective working exclusively in the Juvenile Services Division. James’s experience in both the military and police informed many aspects of his life. As he did in his work, he personally carried himself with a stern and ofttimes impenetrable demeanor. While it was true that he kept a checklist of every person that he felt did wrong; his closest confidants also know that he maintained an equally long list of people he helped through his lifetime commitment to public service and the greater good. This and other aspects... his smile, confidence, quick wit, and consistency will be remembered fondly. To say, "You know how Jim was..." is possible and true because he was always the same. He will be missed. Community Mortuary will host the funeral this Saturday at 11 am with both military and police honors. The repass will be held at Rohr Park in Bonita, CA. Internment will be held on October 6th at the Miramar Naval Air Station.