Roll of Honor
Incident
Corporal John Frontczak and Captain James Daly were shot and killed as they attempted to arrest a man who had just robbed a Potomac Savings and Loan Association office. Minutes after the teller phoned in a description of the suspect and his vehicle to police, Corporal Frontczak radioed that he had spotted the car on Democracy Boulevard near the Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. Captain Daly joined Corporal Frontczak in pursuing the vehicle into a field near the shopping center. As the two officers got out of their vehicles and drew their weapons, the suspect opened fire with a shotgun, striking Corporal Frontczak in the face and Captain Daly in the head. Each officer fired once at the suspect before collapsing. A third officer discovered the wounded officers and called for medical assistance. Both were rushed to Suburban Hospital in extremely critical condition. Captain Daly was removed from life support on March 28 after doctors determined that his injuries had rendered him brain dead. Corporal Frontczak succumbed to his injuries 21 hours later. Two days after the shooting, a man informed police that his son, a high school drop-out who was AWOL from the Army, might be involved. The South Carolina Highway Patrol placed the suspect under arrest several hours later. He was charged with the murders of Corporal Frontczak and Captain Daly, as well as the slaying of a 17-year-old boy that had taken place in August 1975. The suspect pled guilty to all charges, confessing that he had shot the officers because they had drawn their weapons and that he had shot the 17-year-old in the back simply because he wanted to shoot someone, and the boy was the first to walk by him. He was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences but was allowed out on furloughs ten years later. Corporal Frontczak had served with the Montgomery County Police Department for nine years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MD-1929B097- 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.
Corporal Frontczak gave the Montgomery County Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Gaithersburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corporal Frontczak.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Corporal John Michael Frontczak 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 MD, 195 of 377 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.7% of this state's fallen. That is 51.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Montgomery County Police Department, 8 of 21 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 38.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Michael Frontczak's cause is highlighted.
How John Michael Frontczak Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Michael Frontczak is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Michael Frontczak was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
20 officers from Montgomery County Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
