Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman John Dunn succumbed to a stab wound sustained the previous day when he was attacked by a group of men near the intersection of Phillippa Street and Union Street.
He was walking his beat when he noticed a group of men behaving disorderly and loudly. When he told the men to be quiet they attacked him, striking him in the left temple with an object from a sling-shot, fracturing his skull. He was then stabbed in the abdomen. Patrolman Dunn was taken to the Circus Street Infirmary where he succumbed to his wounds the following day.
One subject was found guilty of Patrolman Dunn's murder in May 1855 and sentenced to death. On July 1st, 1855, an additional four subjects were found guilty of being an accessory to murder and sentenced to life at the penitentiary with hard labor.
Patrolman Dunn was from Chester County, Pennsylvania.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, and three children.
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
171 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Dunn served with the New Orleans Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the New Orleans community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman John Dunn 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 LA, 364 of 595 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.2% of this state's fallen. That is 7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At New Orleans Police Department, 86 of 128 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 67.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Dunn's cause is highlighted.
How John Dunn Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to death
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Dunn is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Dunn was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
127 officers from New Orleans Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
