John H. Gates
Agency patch
Night Watchman

John H. Gates

Felonious
End of Watch April 18, 1916
Age 57
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
The Vigil Panel 31 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Night Watchman John Gates was shot and killed by the city marshal who had a long standing grudge with him.

The marshal confronted Watchman Gates in front of a grocery store and an argument ensued. During the course of the argument the marshal shot Watchman Gates with a 16-gauge shotgun.

The marshal then attempted to commit suicide, but survived. He was charged with Watchman Gates' murder and convicted of manslaughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-49C80B1C
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.
Night Watchman Gates gave the Medina City Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Medina community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Night Watchman Gates.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Medina, Medina County, OH
Platform Identity mpd.medina.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 18, 1916
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Age 57
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Night Watchman John H. Gates 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 OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 57.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

Medina City Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
OH — Statewide
572
of 991 officers
57.7% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John H. Gates's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How John H. Gates Compares

Age at Death
57
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
8
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John H. Gates is highlighted in Apr.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Medina City Police Department are honored on badge.nw.