John J. Donohue

Brooklyn Police Department — New York, NY

Felonious

End of Watch July 7, 1872

The Vigil Panel 4 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 8

Incident

Patrolman Donohue was attacked and killed by a man he had arrested several times prior. The suspect was a frequent customer at an unsavory saloon on 1st street. The suspect and several others had taken exception to the fact that Patrolman Donohue had arrested them on several occasions for disorderly behavior. On the night in question, a group of 13 men waited for Patrolman Donohue to approach. When he did, they began singing vulgar songs. Patrolman Donohue ordered them to stop, and they did. When Patrolman Donohue turned to leave, one of the men struck Patrolman Donohue on the head with a heavy cart ring, killing him. Other officers arrested the subject on the scene. The subject was convicted of murder and executed on December 6, 1872. Patrolman Donohue was assigned to the 5th Precinct, the present day 90th Precinct. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery, Woodside, New York.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-1FD1C88C
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Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

154 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Donohue served with the Brooklyn Police Department.
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

Department Brooklyn Police Department

Type Police Department

Location New York, NY

Platform Identity bpd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 7, 1872

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Blunt object

Patrolman John J. Donohue 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 NY, 728 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.9% of this state's fallen. That is 33.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

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.

Brooklyn Police Department

of 9 officers

66.7% Felonious

NY — Statewide

728

of 2,147 officers

33.9% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious