Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer John Fowler was shot and killed while supervising a chain gang. One of the prisoners attempted to escape but was caught by Officer Fowler near First and E Street, NW. A struggle ensued and Officer Fowler was shot and killed with his own weapon. The suspect was apprehended by another officer and hanged for the crime. Officer Fowler had served with the Metropolitan Police Department for 14 years and had served in the Civil War as a private in Company D; 4th Battalion, District of Columbia Infantry.
Survivors
Officer Fowler was survived by his wife and four children and is buried in Plot R91/297 of Congressional Cemetery, Washington, DC.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-DC-76AEA47C- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Officer Fowler gave the Metropolitan Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John H. Fowler served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Officer John H. Fowler 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Metropolitan Police Department, 70 of 131 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John H. Fowler's cause is highlighted.
How John H. Fowler Compares
Offender Outcome
Hanged
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John H. Fowler is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John H. Fowler was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
130 officers from Metropolitan Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
