Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman John McDowell suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after being involved in a violent struggle with a juvenile.
He and his partner were en route to to pick up their relief officer at approximately 11:20 pm when they observed a group of disorderly juveniles in front of a hoagie shop at the corner of Church Lane and Whitby Avenue.
All but one of the subjects complied with the officers' orders to disperse. The juvenile who remained became belligerent, and the shop owner grabbed him in an attempt to restrain him. A violent struggle ensued in which Patrolman McDowell and his partner were able to subdue the boy.
After making the arrest the officers continued to the home of their relieve officer. As they approached the home Patrolman McDowell, who was driving, suffered a heart attack and collapsed. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Patrolman McDowell had served with the Yeadon Police Department for 16 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, daughter, mother, and three siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-193D81F3- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman McDowell gave the Yeadon Borough Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Yeadon community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman McDowell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman John Lindsay McDowell is one of 1 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.
In PA, 118 of 1,261 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 9.4% of this state's fallen. That is 9.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Cardiac compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Lindsay McDowell's cause is highlighted.
How John Lindsay McDowell Compares
When Cardiac Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Cardiac deaths across the full memorial record. John Lindsay McDowell is highlighted in Oct.
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Yeadon Borough Police Department are honored on badge.nw.