John Sandford
Detective Constable

John Sandford

Greater Manchester Police — Manchester, ENG
Felonious
End of Watch May 2, 1982
Age 45
The Vigil Panel 189 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Died from the severe head injuries he sustained five days earlier when he was struck a violent blow across the forehead with a wheel brace as he attended an incident involving a group of youths near the Manchester Sports and Social Club.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-GB-GMP-0C3B8631
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Constable Sandford served with the Greater Manchester Police.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Constable Sandford.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type State Police
Location Manchester, ENG
Platform Identity gmp.man.eng.gb.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 2, 1982
Age 45
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Homicide - Beaten

Detective Constable John Sandford 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 ENG, 702 of 2,827 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 24.8% of this state's fallen. That is 24.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Greater Manchester Police, 8 of 30 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 26.7% of this agency's fallen.

Greater Manchester Police
8
of 30 officers
26.7% Felonious
ENG — Statewide
702
of 2,827 officers
24.8% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Sandford's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How John Sandford Compares

Age at Death
45
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Sandford is highlighted in May.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909