Roll of Honor
Joseph P. McGovern
Incident
Police Officer Joseph McGovern was struck and killed in a chain reaction accident started by a drunk driver. The drunk driver struck a vehicle at the intersection of Arsenal Street and Iowa Street, which then struck Officer McGovern. The drunk driver was arrested and charged with manslaughter.
Survivors
Officer McGovern had been with the agency for 21 years and was survived by his wife and nine children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-A7DB5D86- 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
21 years. You could have gone home.
Police Officer McGovern gave the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department 21 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer McGovern.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Joseph P. McGovern 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 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 63.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph P. McGovern's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph P. McGovern Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph P. McGovern is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph P. McGovern was killed by automobile.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
175 officers from St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
