Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman John Clancy died of injuries he sustained when he was assaulted by a man he had previously arrested.
Patrolman Clancy was on the corner of 3rd Avenue and Carroll Street, speaking with the local butcher, when a male walked up behind Patrolman Clancy and struck him in the head with a baseball bat. Patrolman Clancy was taken to Seney Hospital where he died one month later from his wounds, which included a fractured skull.
On January 23, 1891, the suspect, 23, was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in Sing Sing Prison.
Patrolman Clancy had served with the Brooklyn Police Department for 3 1/2 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-F0CF1647- 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
136 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Clancy gave the Brooklyn Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman John J. Clancy 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 NY, 754 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.1% of this state's fallen. That is 19.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Brooklyn Police Department, 6 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John J. Clancy's cause is highlighted.
How John J. Clancy Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John J. Clancy is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John J. Clancy was killed by blunt object; bat.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
8 officers from Brooklyn Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
