John Joseph Bean Jr.
Policeman

John Joseph Bean Jr.

Charleston Police Department — Charleston, SC
Felonious
End of Watch April 21, 1899
Age 25
The Vigil Panel 15 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Policeman Bean was shot and killed at around midnight while approaching three loitering men. Earlier in the night he had encountered the men while walking his beat and ordered them to leave. The incident occurred when he returned to the scene and observed them in the same location. Policeman Bean's murderer was arrested and hanged on August 9, 1899. Policeman Bean was single and survived by his parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-D3309132
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

127 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Policeman Bean served with the Charleston Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Charleston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Charleston, SC
Platform Identity cpd.charleston.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 21, 1899
Age 25
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Policeman John Joseph Bean Jr. is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In SC, 272 of 441 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.7% of this state's fallen. That is 61.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Charleston Police Department, 12 of 24 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Charleston Police Department
12
of 24 officers
50% Felonious
SC — Statewide
272
of 441 officers
61.7% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Joseph Bean Jr.'s cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How John Joseph Bean Jr. Compares

Age at Death
25
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Joseph Bean Jr. is highlighted in Apr.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Joseph Bean Jr. was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909