Captain George Riviere was described in his time as being an extremely efficient and well-liked member of the Minneapolis Police Department.
He was born on a farm in Berthier County, Canada in 1863 and came to Minneapolis in 1880. Captain Riviere was one of the thousands of men of his generation who made their living in the sawmills of the “Mill City” during the summer and retreated to the woods in the winter to work as lumberjacks.
Captain Riviere was appointed to the Minneapolis Police Department on July 10, 1886 by Mayor A.A. Ames and assigned to the Central Station. In 1897, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant by Mayor Robert Pratt.
In 1900, he lived at 2804 Sheridan Avenue North with his wife Elodie Zulma Poissant and their children George, Henry and Edward.
In 1905, he was promoted to the rank of Captain by Mayor David Jones and in 1911 and 1912, he served as Assistant Superintendent of the Department. As he was growing a bit older in 1913, Captain Riviere was given charge of the Municipal Court security detail. He held that position until the mid-1930s, when he retired from the Department.
Throughout his life, Captain Riviere was a prominent member of the Herman Lodge #18 of the Knights of Pythias; the Flour City Camp of the Modern Woods Men of America; and the Relief Society.
Captain Riviere was widowed in 1938 and lived until March 8, 1948. We have no details about his funeral service nor know where he was buried.