John F. McEntee Jr.

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch February 20, 1971

Age 24

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo

The Vigil Panel 108 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 377

Incident

Police Officer John McEntee was shot and killed as he was sitting in his patrol car at the corner of Woodstock Street and Norris Street.

He and other officers had responded to an unfounded radio call. Two youths, 15 and 18, walked up behind his car as he was writing a report. The 15-year-old pulled a pistol and shot him twice in the back of the head. Both were apprehended and charged with murder. When asked why did you shoot him, the killer replied, "I just wanted to." Witnesses stated he told them, "I want to kill a cop."

In 1973, the boy, with testimony from his companion, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. He received a new trial and was sentenced to life again in 1975. Due to legal issues in both trials, a third trial was ordered, and he was released in lieu of bond. In 1979, he was convicted a third time and sent to prison for life. In consideration of the other suspect's testimony, he was sentenced to 3 to 20 years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-61C3EF33
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Police Officer McEntee gave the Philadelphia Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Philadelphia Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA

Platform Identity ppd.philadelphia.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 20, 1971

Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo

Age 24

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Military Service

John F. McEntee Jr. served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Police Officer John F. McEntee Jr. 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 97,759 officers honored here.

In PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 47.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Philadelphia Police Department, 162 of 378 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.9% of this agency's fallen.

Philadelphia Police Department

162

of 378 officers

42.9% Felonious

PA — Statewide

597

of 1,261 officers

47.3% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious