Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff John Rooney was shot and killed as he and another deputy attempted to arrest two brothers on Maine Street in Lowell, Arizona.
The two had been taken into custody but began to resist. One of the brothers grabbed Deputy Rooney's service revolver and fatally shot him. The other deputy was able to return fire and killed the subject.
Deputy Rooney was appointed deputy in February 1912. He was survived by his son and brother and predeceased by his wife. He was a member of the Elks Lodge and the Knights of Columbus.
He is buried in the Elks plot at Evergreen Cemetery.
Survivors
He was survived by his son and brother and predeceased by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AZ-17981E50- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew John. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
You barely got started.
Deputy Sheriff Rooney gave the Cochise County Sheriff's Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Bisbee community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Rooney.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff John Rooney 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 AZ, 204 of 330 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Cochise County Sheriff's Department, 14 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 93.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Rooney's cause is highlighted.
How John Rooney Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Rooney is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from Cochise County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
