Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer John Nicholson was stabbed after interrupting a burglary in progress at a grocery store at 1131 Pacific Avenue in San Francisco. The suspect fled with Officer Nicholson in pursuit. Officer Nicholson chased the suspect to the corner of Pacific Avenue and Mason Street, where a struggle ensued, and the suspect stabbed him and fled. Officer Nicholson continued the chase and fired three shots at the suspect. The suspect then turned on Officer Nicholson again and stabbed him in the neck and face, killing him. In 1902, Officer Nicholson's photograph was installed at the San Francisco Police Headquarters, along with four other officers killed in the line of duty, where it was displayed until the California earthquake of 1906 when all of the portraits were lost. Officer Nicholson had served with the San Francisco Police Department for over three years. He was survived by his fiancee. He is buried at what used to be Calvary Cemetery, now Holy Cross Cemetery, in Colma, California.
Survivors
He was survived by his fiancee.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-CF0AFC43- 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
142 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Officer Nicholson gave the San Francisco Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Francisco community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer John Nicholson 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 Nicholson's cause is highlighted.
How John Nicholson Compares
Offender Outcome
Never identified
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Nicholson is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Nicholson was killed by edged weapon; knife.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
105 officers from San Francisco Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
