Patrolman

John F. Saxton

Cleveland Division of Police — Cleveland, OH
Felonious
End of Watch February 15, 1926
Age 35
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
The Vigil Panel 50 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Saxton succumbed to a gunshot wound received three years earlier while attempting to arrest a robbery suspect. He and two other officers had gone into a restaurant after receiving a tip on the suspect's whereabouts. When they began to search him he jumped up and opened fire with a .25 caliber handgun, striking Patrolman Saxton in the groin. Patrolman Saxton never fully recovered from the wound, developed blood poison, and died three years later. The man was convicted of shooting with intent to kill and carrying a concealed handgun. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison a few weeks after he shot Patrolman Saxton. He was not charged when Patrolman Saxton died.

Survivors

Patrolman Saxton had been with the agency for seven years and was survived by his wife, three sons, brother, and two sisters.

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 Saxton gave the Cleveland Division of Police 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Saxton.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, OH
Platform Identity cdpd.cuyahoga.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 15, 1926
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 35
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.

34,117 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 1926, 209 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 9th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 35. 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. 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

February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

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

Cleveland Division of Police has 119 officers remembered here, John among them.

Across the years

Patrolman John F. Saxton

Cleveland Division of Police · End of Watch February 15, 1926

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 43-W

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