John C. Phillips
Agency patch
Police Officer

John C. Phillips

Denver Police Department — Denver, CO
Felonious
End of Watch July 16, 1889
The Vigil Panel 10 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Phillips was shot and killed while on foot patrol. He observed a man he suspected of being a burglar. When he asked the man what his business was the man pulled out a concealed handgun and shot Officer Phillips once in the chest. Officer Phillips was able to return fire but did not strike the suspect, who fled the scene and was never caught. Officer Phillips made it to a call box and called for help but succumbed to his injuries a short time later.

In Our Keeping

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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

137 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Police Officer Phillips served with the Denver Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Denver community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Denver, Denver County, CO
Platform Identity dpd.denver.co.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 16, 1889
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

John is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1889, 46 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 142nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

By month
By day of the week
III

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
IV

His people

Denver Police Department has 74 officers remembered here, John among them.

Across the years

Police Officer John C. Phillips

Denver Police Department · End of Watch July 16, 1889

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 51-E

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