John J. McGovern

Newark Police Division — Newark, NJ

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch October 13, 1912

Age 33

Tour of Duty 2 yrs 6 mo

The Vigil Panel 27 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 57

Incident

Police Officer John McGovern was shot and killed while questioning three suspicious men across from the Webster Street School on Crane Street. As he spoke with two of the men the third man stepped behind him and shot him in the back four times. The shooter and two of his relatives were arrested. In two trials he was found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to death. In 1914 his third trial resulted in a murder conviction and he was sentenced to 13 to 27 years. He was paroled on May 2, 1922. Officer McGovern was a U.S. Army veteran of the Spanish-American War and had served with the Newark Police Department for 2-1/2 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two children, father, and sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NJ-4249CE74
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.
Police Officer McGovern gave the Newark Police Division 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Newark 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

Department Newark Police Division

Location Newark, NJ

Platform Identity npdpd.essex.nj.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 13, 1912

Tour of Duty 2 yrs 6 mo

Age 33

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .32 caliber

Offender Paroled in 1922

Military Service

John J. McGovern served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Police Officer John J. McGovern is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In NJ, 264 of 646 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40.9% of this state's fallen. That is 13.3 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Newark Police Division, 28 of 58 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 48.3% of this agency's fallen.

Newark Police Division

of 58 officers

48.3% Felonious

NJ — Statewide

264

of 646 officers

40.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious