Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Cummings succumbed to injuries received the previous day when he was beaten by two men he was attempting to arrest. He had responded to a bar at Morgan and Jefferson Street over a dispute of a bar tab. When he entered the two men began to beat him with a club and kick him. After the assault he was taken to his home where his condition deteriorated, causing his death the next day. The two suspects were apprehended and held for trial. One of the suspects was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 10 years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-E9DAA72C- 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
151 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Cummings gave the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman John Cummings 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 MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 63.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, 112 of 176 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Cummings's cause is highlighted.
How John Cummings Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Cummings is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Cummings was killed by person.
Others Who Wore This Badge
175 officers from St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
