Roll of Honor
Incident
Lieutenant John Bradshaw was shot and killed while responding to an officer needs assistance call. The call came in from an officer whose weapon was stolen by an inmate he was transporting to the hospital. The suspect then took a motorcycle driver hostage and fled the scene. Lieutenant Bradshaw stopped up the road from the suspect and waited for his arrival at Hohokam Highway and University Drive. When the suspect saw the patrol car he fired one shot which struck Lieutenant Bradshaw in the chest. The suspect was later shot by Department of Public Safety officers. Lieutenant Bradshaw had served with the Tempe Police Department for 20 years. He was survived by his wife and four children. Lieutenant Bradshaw was a graduate of the 130th Session of the FBI National Academy.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AZ-F7DD0073- 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
20 years. You could have gone home.
Lieutenant Bradshaw gave the Tempe Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Tempe community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Bradshaw.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Lieutenant John Eaton Bradshaw 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 Tempe Police Department, 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Eaton Bradshaw's cause is highlighted.
How John Eaton Bradshaw Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Eaton Bradshaw is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Eaton Bradshaw was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Tempe Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
