John H. McMail
Agency patch
Patrolman

John H. McMail

Felonious
End of Watch March 15, 1922
Age 33
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Badge 3029
The Vigil Panel 42 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman John McMail was shot and killed by a suspect he attempted to arrest for assault in Brooklyn. Patrolman McMail was on foot patrol when he was approached by a woman who told him she had been assaulted by a man who was standing on the corner of Sutter Avenue and Osborne Street, Brooklyn. Patrolman McMail went to the corner and approached the suspect. The suspect fled on foot, and Patrolman McMail pursued him. As he was running, the suspect turned and fired from two .45 caliber revolvers, striking Patrolman McMail in the head. The suspect continued to flee but was shot and wounded by the owner of a private security company who had witnessed what had happened. The suspect was apprehended, and they found him armed with four guns, a blackjack, and manacles. He was convicted of Patrolman McMail's murder and executed at Sing Sing Prison on March 2, 1923. Patrolman McMail had served with the New York City Police Department for seven years and was assigned to the 85th Precinct, the present day 73rd Precinct. His wife and two children survived him.

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman McMail gave the New York City Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman McMail.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location New York, NY
Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 15, 1922
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 33
Badge Number 3029
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

John is one of 15,741 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.2% of the 27,543 remembered there.

33,910 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1922, 228 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 33. Of the 14,215 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. John had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.2% of all 27,543 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

New York City Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, John among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman John H. McMail

New York City Police Department · End of Watch March 15, 1922

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 20-W

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