Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Gratton died of injuries he sustained the previous day when he was pursuing a vehicle. Patrolman Gratton was on motorcycle patrol when he attempted to stop a vehicle. A pursuit ensued, and patrolman Gratton collided with another car at the corner of 63rd Street and West End Avenue, Manhattan. He was seriously injured and taken to Roosevelt hospital where he died eight days later from his injuries. Patrolman Gratton was a U.S. Navy veteran who had served with the New York City Police Department for six years and was assigned to Motorcycle Squad 1.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-F0F5F198- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 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.
Patrolman Gratton gave the New York City Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John Henry Gratton served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrolman John Henry Gratton is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NY, 645 of 2,147 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At New York City Police Department, 283 of 1237 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 22.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Henry Gratton's cause is highlighted.
How John Henry Gratton Compares
Offender Outcome
Not available
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. John Henry Gratton is highlighted in Dec.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1,236 officers from New York City Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
