Joseph John Haydu

Cleveland Division of Police — Cleveland, OH

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch May 19, 1956

Age 34

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

The Vigil Panel 92 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 118

Incident

Patrolman Joseph Haydu was shot and killed by a suspect who also murdered a department store security guard near Public Square. The suspect had just stolen $160 from a department store when he encountered Patrolman Haydu in the street and shot him in the chest. The man then ran into another department store, where he encountered and shot the security guard. The suspect was shot and killed a short time later by another officer. Patrolman Haydu was a United States Navy Reserve World War II veteran and had served with the Cleveland Police Department for 10 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-C38ACBBF
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.
Patrolman Haydu gave the Cleveland Division of Police 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland 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 Cleveland Division of Police

Location Cleveland, OH

Platform Identity cdpd.cuyahoga.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 19, 1956

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 34

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; Luger

Offender Not available

Military Service

Joseph John Haydu served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman Joseph John Haydu 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 OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Cleveland Division of Police, 83 of 119 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.7% of this agency's fallen.

Cleveland Division of Police

of 119 officers

69.7% Felonious

OH — Statewide

572

of 991 officers

57.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious