Prev Next
John F. Dea
Agency patch
Detective

John F. Dea

Denver Police Department — Denver, CO
Felonious
United States flag Colorado flag
End of Watch February 11, 1933
Age 57
The Vigil Panel 65 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 73

Incident

Detectives John Dea and George Schneider were shot and killed while attempting to question a man in connection with stolen tools. The detectives had been called to an auction house by the owner who received the tools from the suspect. The owner suspected the tools were stolen and told the man to come back at 2:00 pm. When the man returned, he was met by the detectives and was asked to come to a back room in order to separate him from the patrons of the busy auction house. Unbeknownst to the detectives, the man had been previously arrested for carrying a concealed weapon and threatening police officers. As they walked through the door, the man drew a handgun and shot both detectives several times before going on a shooting rampage in the auction house, killing one patron and wounding two others. When the shooter came within shooting range of the wounded Detective Dea, the detective shot and killed him. Detective Schneider was killed almost instantly in the initial gunfire. Detective Dea was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. He is buried at Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery, Wheat Ridge, Jefferson County, Colorado.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtmswfqj6h0gqd57rdfn5
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew John. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Dea served with the Denver Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Denver community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Dea.

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

Agency

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

Service Record

End of Watch February 11, 1933
Age 57
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
  4. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1933, 184 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 15th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 57. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective John F. Dea

Denver Police Department · End of Watch February 11, 1933

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 53-W

↑