Roll of Honor
Incident
Inspector John Donahue succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained six weeks earlier while investigating a complaint from a man that his wife had stolen $650. The man had filed the complaint with the desk officer and was told to come back in the morning to speak with detectives. When the man returned, he was interviewed by Inspector Donahue, who then located the woman at the train station attempting to leave with her boyfriend. The man, woman, and boyfriend all returned to the police station, where the woman denied being married to the man. Inspector Donahue requested that the man obtain his marriage certificate and return to the scene. When the man returned, he observed Inspector Donahue interviewing the woman and became enraged. He shot Inspector Donahue with a pistol he had obtained when he went to get the marriage certificate. The suspect then went into an adjoining officer and committed suicide. Inspector Donahue was taken to St. Mary's Hospital where he died six weeks later. Inspector Donahue had served with the Waterbury Police Department for 17 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, daughter, and three sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CT-49BA7262- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Inspector Donahue gave the Waterbury Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Waterbury community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Inspector Donahue.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Inspector John F. Donahue 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 CT, 74 of 169 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 43.8% of this state's fallen. That is 43.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Watertown Police Department, 5 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 45.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John F. Donahue's cause is highlighted.
How John F. Donahue Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John F. Donahue is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John F. Donahue was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
10 officers from Watertown Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
