Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Pat Patterson succumbed to injuries sustained when he was kicked in the groin while trying to arrest a man on August 1, 1940. He was helping a military police officer arrest an escaped patient from the Veterans Administration Hospital. The man began to struggle with Patrolman Patterson in front of the Battle Creek Post Office at 67 E Michigan Avenue. Officer Patterson died from complications after surgery for the injury. Patrolman Patterson was a gifted athlete who originally came to Battle Creek to play baseball. He was a member of several amateur and semi-professional teams and also coached. He was the coach of the Battle Creek Central High School baseball team that won a state championship in 1907. On December 31, 1999, a portion of East State Street adjacent to the department headquarters was renamed "John W. Patterson Way."
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-80099EE2- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew John. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
31 years. You could have gone home.
Patrolman Patterson gave the Battle Creek City Police Department 31 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Battle Creek community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Patterson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman John W. Patterson 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 MI, 426 of 719 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.2% of this state's fallen. That is 59.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Battle Creek City Police Department, 3 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John W. Patterson's cause is highlighted.
How John W. Patterson Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John W. Patterson is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John W. Patterson was killed by person.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Battle Creek City Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
