John L. Summers, Jr.

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department — St. Louis, MO

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch April 5, 1973

Age 33

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

The Vigil Panel 111 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 175

Incident

Police Officer John Summers was shot and killed while chasing a suspect who had been shooting at his wife and setting her house on fire. Officer Summers and other officers had responded to the home at 5777 Westminster Place. Officer Summers chased the suspect across the street, at which time several shots were fired. The suspect was taken into custody by other officers. After being unable to locate Officer Summers, it was realized that he never cleared back to duty, and a search was begun for him. He was found in the backyard of a home with a bullet wound from which he bled to death. The subject was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life. He received an additional 40 years for arson. Officer Summers was a United States Army Vietnam War veteran and had served with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department for eight years. He is survived by his wife and three sons. Officer Summers was the first black police officer to be killed in the line of duty with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and three sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MO-962332C9
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 Summers gave the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis 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 St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department

Location St. Louis, MO

Platform Identity stlopd.saintlouis.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 5, 1973

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

Age 33

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle

Offender Sentenced to life

Military Service

John L. Summers, Jr. served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Police Officer John L. Summers, Jr. 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 MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 9.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, 112 of 176 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.6% of this agency's fallen.

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department

112

of 176 officers

63.6% Felonious

MO — Statewide

516

of 813 officers

63.5% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious