John Blank

Baltimore Police Dept. — Baltimore, MD

Felonious

End of Watch February 12, 1934

Age 46

Tour of Duty 11 yrs 2 mo

The Vigil Panel 67 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 150

Incident

Police Officer John Blank was shot and killed as he chased four noted gangsters who had just blown the safe at the Carpel Mayonnaise Plant in the 1400 block of North Central Avenue. On April 7, 1936, one was discovered in prison in Fairfax, Virginia, where he was serving a life sentence for the murder of a man in Washington D.C. Two more were apprehended six months later in Washington D.C. They were sentenced to life for several robberies, murders, and other crimes committed all over the northeast. The three accused the fourth gangster Anthony, "Tony the Stinger", Cugino of killing Officer Blank. Cugino was responsible for the murders of rival gansters, police officers, and women. To get his point across he buried a woman alive. In 1935 he was arrested in New York City. A few days later he hanged himself in his jail cell. Before his death he admitted to one murder; that of Police Officer Charles Stockberger of the Philadelphia Police Department on July 14,1934. He is also suspected of having killed Officer James Garvey of the New York City Police Department on April 21, 1933. He is also accused of smuggling a pistol to a death row inmate who killed Patrolman William A. Toot of the Richmond, Virginia, Police Department on September 30, 1934. At the time of his capture the FBI had listed him as public enemy #1. The other three suspects applied for paroles in the 1960s, but all three were denied. Officer Blank had served with Baltimore City Police Department for 12 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MD-5AA69FF4
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Blank gave the Baltimore City Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Baltimore community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Blank.

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

Agency

Department Baltimore Police Dept.

Location Baltimore, MD

Platform Identity baltpd.baltimore.md.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 12, 1934

Tour of Duty 11 yrs 2 mo

Age 46

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Not available

Police Officer John Blank is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In MD, 195 of 377 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.7% of this state's fallen. That is 2.5 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Baltimore Police Dept., 80 of 151 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this agency's fallen.

Baltimore Police Dept.

of 151 officers

53% Felonious

MD — Statewide

195

of 377 officers

51.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious