Patrolman

John Cannon

Memphis Police Department — Memphis, TN
Felonious
End of Watch June 30, 1939
Age 45
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman John Cannon died of injuries sustained when a prisoner assaulted him 19 months earlier.

On Thanksgiving Day 1937, Patrolman Cannon and his partner were sent to a cafe at the corner of Jackson Avenue and Decatur Street to investigate a disorderly drunk male. When the officer arrived they arrested the man and placed him in the back seat of their patrol car. Patrolman Cannon's partner went back into the bar to call for a patrol wagon to pick up the suspect.

The suspect suddenly started kicking Patrolman Cannon and continued to do so until his partner returned to the car. Patrolman Cannon was rushed to a hospital where it was determined that the blows had ruptured a coronary artery. Patrolman Cannon never recovered and died 19 months later from his injuries.

Patrolman Cannon had served with the Memphis Police Department for 15 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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 Cannon gave the Memphis Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Memphis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Cannon.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Memphis, Shelby County, TN
Platform Identity mpd.shelby.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 30, 1939
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
Age 45
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Assault
Weapon Person

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
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1939, 82 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 78th 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 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

June holds 8.1% 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 person, in 2% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Memphis Police Department has 94 officers remembered here, John among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman John Cannon

Memphis Police Department · End of Watch June 30, 1939

Where the Name Is Cut

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