Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman John Dolan succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained four months earlier when he attempted to quell a disturbance at a bar near the intersection of Melwood Avenue and Stone Avenue. He and another officer were attempting to separate two brothers, the owners of the bar, as they they fought each other. One brother produced a pistol and shot Patrolman Dolan. The other officer shot and killed him.
Patrolman Dolan, shot in the abdomen, was taken to City Hospital where he slowly improved. After four months he took a turn for the worse, and his left leg had to be amputated. He died on December 20.
Patrolman Dolan had served with the Louisville Police Department for 14 months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, brother, and four sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-FED07955- 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
You barely got started.
Patrolman Dolan gave the Louisville Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Louisville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Dolan.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman John Dolan 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 KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 22.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Louisville Police Department, 51 of 91 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 56% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Dolan's cause is highlighted.
How John Dolan Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Dolan is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Dolan was killed by handgun; pistol.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
90 officers from Louisville Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
