John E. West
Agency patch
Patrolman

John E. West

Felonious
End of Watch February 4, 1946
Age 48
Tour of Duty 17 yrs
Badge 36
The Vigil Panel 82 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman John West was shot and killed after arresting a speeder while assigned to the Highway Patrol Bureau and was transporting the suspect to the precinct house when he produced a gun and shot him. The suspect, 24, was apprehended in Brooklyn three days later and confessed to the murder. He was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 45 years to life. The Nassau County Police Department prohibited a single officer from transporting a prisoner as a result of Patrolman West's murder. Patrolman West had served with the agency for 17 years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-7CEEF6F6
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.
Patrolman West gave the Nassau County Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Mineola community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman West.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Mineola, Nassau County, NY
Platform Identity ncpd.nassau.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 4, 1946
Tour of Duty 17 yrs
Age 48
Badge Number 36
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Patrolman John E. West 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 NY, 728 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.9% of this state's fallen. That is 33.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Nassau County Police Department, 12 of 51 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 23.5% of this agency's fallen.

Nassau County Police Department
12
of 51 officers
23.5% Felonious
NY — Statewide
728
of 2,147 officers
33.9% 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 E. West's cause is highlighted.

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

How John E. West Compares

Age at Death
48
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
17
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John E. West is highlighted in Feb.

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. John E. West was killed by handgun.

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