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John J. Rhatigan
Agency patch
Patrolman

John J. Rhatigan

New York City Police Department — New York, NY
Veteran → Accident
United States flag New York flag
End of Watch January 22, 1908
Age 32
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
The Vigil Panel 53 · Column 4 · Line 15 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Military Also Remembered Department 1,221

Incident

Patrolman John Rhatigan succumbed to injuries sustained two days earlier when he was thrown from his horse while patrolling Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn.

He suffered a skull fracture when he was thrown against a tree at the intersection of Ocean Parkway and Webster Avenue. He was taken to Kings County Hospital where he remained until succumbing to his injuries.

The horse he was riding was considered a "bad" horse and had previously thrown and injured two other officers. One week after Patrolman Rhatigan's death the horse dragged a police lieutenant for one mile, causing severe injuries.

Patrolman Rhatigan was a U.S. Army veteran and one of the Rough Riders in the Spanish-American War. He had served with the NYPD for four years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. John is one person.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Rhatigan gave the New York City Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

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

Service Record

End of Watch January 22, 1908
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Age 32
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Military Service

John J. Rhatigan served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Accident

John is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 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 1908, 36 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 111th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 32. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. John had served 4 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 7.7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

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 J. Rhatigan

New York City Police Department · End of Watch January 22, 1908

Military Service

John J. Rhatigan served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

Visit John J. Rhatigan’s page on salute.nw →

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

Where the Name Is Cut

Also Remembered

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