John R. J. Block

Baltimore Police Department — Baltimore, MD

Felonious

End of Watch April 21, 1933

Age 33

Tour of Duty 13 yrs

The Vigil Panel 66 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 150

Incident

Officer John Block was shot and killed by one of three youths after he stopped them in their car after they robbed two Charles St. bus drivers. He was removing the license tags when he was shot on Hanover Street and Belle Grove Road. One 21-year-old suspect, who was the gunman, shot and killed himself as law enforcement officers closed in on him at a farm near Buckhannon, West Virginia, four days later. Three days after his suicide, another 19-year-old suspect was apprehended in Orlando, Florida. He was convicted of two counts of robbery and sentenced to 18 years. A murder charge was dropped. He was recommended for parole in 1943. The third suspect was never apprehended. Officer Block had served with the Baltimore City Police Department for 13 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MD-0FB2A2FB
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Block gave the Baltimore City Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Baltimore community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Block.

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

Agency

Department Baltimore Police Department

Type Other

Location Baltimore, MD

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

Service Record

End of Watch April 21, 1933

Tour of Duty 13 yrs

Age 33

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Police Officer John R. J. Block is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,586 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 2.2 percentage points below the national rate of 53.9%.

At Baltimore Police Department, 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 Department

of 151 officers

53% Felonious

MD — Statewide

195

of 377 officers

51.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,559

of 32,586 officers

53.9% Felonious