John Cummings
Agency patch
Patrolman

John Cummings

Felonious
End of Watch September 10, 1875
Age 38
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
The Vigil Panel 5 ›
Gender Male

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
April 2, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 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

Location St. Louis, MO
Platform Identity stlopd.saintlouis.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 10, 1875
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
Age 38
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Person
Offender sentenced to 10 years

Patrolman John Cummings 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 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 9.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

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.

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department
112
of 176 officers
63.6% Felonious
MO — Statewide
516
of 813 officers
63.5% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Cummings's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How John Cummings Compares

Age at End of Watch
38
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
1
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

sentenced to 10 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Cummings is highlighted in Sep.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Cummings was killed by person.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518