Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant John Macaulay succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained 10 days earlier when he was shot by a robbery suspect near the intersection of Van Ness Avenue and Willow Alley. Sergeant Macaulay noticed a vehicle that was wanted in connection with an armed robbery of a supermarket that occurred the previous week. Sergeant Macaulay stopped the vehicle and walked towards it. The suspect attempted to draw a Walther P38 pistol from a briefcase that he had in his stolen car. Sergeant Macaulay attempted to restrain the suspect by putting him in a headlock. The suspect then drew a .38 caliber pistol from his waistband and shot Sergeant Macaulay, mortally wounding him. The suspect fled to a local hotel where he fatally shot his wife and then committed suicide. Sergeant Macaulay had served with the San Francisco Police Department for 11 years, and was one of their most decorated officers. He had received three Medal of Valor awards, five Police Commissioner awards, and over 100 Captain's Commendations.
Survivors
He is survived by nine siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-478FDAA2- 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.
Sergeant Macaulay gave the San Francisco Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Francisco community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Macaulay.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant John S. Macaulay 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John S. Macaulay's cause is highlighted.
How John S. Macaulay Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John S. Macaulay is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John S. Macaulay was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
105 officers from San Francisco Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
