John P. Scala
Agency patch
Police Officer

John P. Scala

Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch January 24, 1975
Age 45
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
Badge 9914
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer John Scala was shot and killed in a gun battle with two men at the intersection of 113th Street, near Morningside Drive, outside of the main entrance to St. Luke's Hospital. Officer Scala was escorting a hospital attendant with a bank deposit when the two men attempted to rob them. Officer Scala, shot through the heart, managed to return fire, wounding both suspects. One was arrested at the scene. The other suspect was arrested at another hospital when he went there to be treated for gunshot wounds. Both suspects were convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to 25 years to life. One was paroled May 14th, 1997, and then deported. Officer Scala had served with the New York City Police Department for over 20 years and was assigned to the applicant Processing Division.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtnact936s3wpjn1bb597
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.

Also honored at salute.nw. One record, 2 gates. John is one person.

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

20 years. You could have gone home.
Police Officer Scala gave the New York City Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Scala.

— 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 January 24, 1975
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
Age 45
Badge Number 9914
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Military Service

John P. Scala served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Felonious

John is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 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 1975, 163 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 21st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 45. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. John had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% 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

Police Officer John P. Scala

New York City Police Department · End of Watch January 24, 1975

Military Service

John P. Scala served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.

Visit John P. Scala’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 30-E

Also Remembered

salute.nw →

↑