Roll of Honor
Incident
Captain John Phelan died as a result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.
Captain Phelan had served with the Paterson Police Department for 37 years. He is survived by his wife, who is also a Paterson police officer, a sister, and two nieces. His father was also a Paterson police officer.
COVID-19 and Law Enforcement
Captain John M. Phelan died on March 7, 2021 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 58.
He is one of 884 officers honored here, and one of 2 at Paterson Police Department.
Beginning in early 2020, law enforcement officers across the country contracted COVID-19 in the course of their duties. While much of the nation sheltered at home, they kept answering calls, making arrests, transporting prisoners, and working face to face with the public. There was no distance to be had from the job.
Corrections officers were hit hardest. Confined facilities and large populations meant constant, close, unavoidable exposure.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, who is also a Paterson police officer, a sister, and two nieces.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-A85F62C7- 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
The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Captain Phelan gave the Paterson Police Department 37 years.
Thank you for your service to the Paterson community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Captain Phelan.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Captain John M. Phelan is one of 2,974 officers lost to illness connected to their service across the full record of this memorial — 9.1% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NJ, 77 of 646 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 11.9% of this state's fallen. That is 2.8 percentage points above the national rate of 9.1%.
At Paterson Police Department, 3 of 11 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 27.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Illness compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John M. Phelan's cause is highlighted.
How John M. Phelan Compares
When Illness Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. John M. Phelan is highlighted in Mar.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
10 officers from Paterson Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
