John J. Driscoll
Agency patch
Officer

John J. Driscoll

San Francisco Police Department — San Francisco, CA
Felonious
End of Watch June 28, 1927
Age 26
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
The Vigil Panel 53 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Driscoll was shot and killed as he attempted to arrest two robbery suspects. Officer Driscoll was on the corner of Howard Street and Harriet Street conversing with an off-duty officer when he observed a robbery in progress on the next corner. Officer Driscoll chased the suspects to an ally between Seventh Street and Eight Street where he was shot and killed by the suspects. The off-duty Officer rushed to the shots and arrested one suspect. The second suspect was arrested later in the day. Both suspects were charged with murder and robbery. One of the suspects was sentenced to death and hung at San Quentin State Prison on August 17, 1928.

Survivors

Officer Driscoll had served with the the San Francisco Police Department for four years and was survived by his wife and two sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-01626F77
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Driscoll gave the San Francisco Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Francisco community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Driscoll.

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

Agency

Location San Francisco, CA
Platform Identity sfpd.sf.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 28, 1927
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Age 26
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Executed in 1928

Officer John J. Driscoll 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At San Francisco Police Department, 66 of 106 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.3% of this agency's fallen.

San Francisco Police Department
66
of 106 officers
62.3% Felonious
CA — Statewide
974
of 1,837 officers
53% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John J. Driscoll's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How John J. Driscoll Compares

Age at End of Watch
26
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
4
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Executed in 1928

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John J. Driscoll is highlighted in Jun.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John J. Driscoll was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518