John Michael Callahan II
Agency patch
Police Officer

John Michael Callahan II

Maryville Police Department — Maryville, TN
Felonious
End of Watch February 21, 1981
Age 29
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
The Vigil Panel 124 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer John Callahan was killed when his motorcycle was struck by a vehicle being operated by an intoxicated driver. He was on patrol and was approaching the intersection of Highway 73 and Merritt Road when the vehicle struck him. The driver was arrested at the scene. He was convicted of vehicular homicide and sentenced to 10 years in prison and 20 years probation. Officer Callahan had served with the Maryville Police Department for five years.

Survivors

He was survived by his twin sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-5F81F7F8
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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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Callahan gave the Maryville Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Maryville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Callahan.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Maryville, Blount County, TN
Platform Identity mpd.blount.tn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 21, 1981
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 29
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Automobile

Police Officer John Michael Callahan II 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 TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 64.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Maryville Police Department, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Maryville Police Department
4
of 4 officers
100% Felonious
TN — Statewide
498
of 769 officers
64.8% 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 Michael Callahan II's cause is highlighted.

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

How John Michael Callahan II Compares

Age at Death
29
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
5
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Michael Callahan II is highlighted in Feb.

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 Michael Callahan II was killed by automobile.

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

Incident Location