Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant John Fitzgerald was shot and killed while leading a raid on a home that contained illegal liquor and narcotics. Sergeant Fitzgerald was shot in the stomach during the raid and died as a result. The suspect, who had been arrested by Sergeant Fitzgerald in 1916, had been paroled from San Quentin Prison three months earlier, and had also served time in Folsum Prison in 1911 and 1913. The suspect fled to Mexico where he was arrested in 1922 and returned to Los Angeles in February of 1923. He was convicted of Sergeant Fitzgerald's murder and sentenced to life in prison in June of 1923. In June of 1936 he was charged with another murder after evidence was discovered that he robbed and killed a pool hall operator minutes after he killed Sergeant Fitzgerald. He was found guilty of his murder and received another life sentence. In July of 1953 he was released from prison and deported to Mexico.
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- 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.
Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald served with the Los Angeles Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Fitzgerald.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Sergeant John Fitzgerald 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 Los Angeles Police Department, 115 of 240 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Fitzgerald's cause is highlighted.
How John Fitzgerald Compares
Offender Outcome
Released in 1953
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Fitzgerald is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Fitzgerald was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
239 officers from Los Angeles Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
