Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman John McDaniel was shot when he responded to a disturbance between two acquaintances.
When Patrolman McDaniel attempted to arrest one of the men, he was shot. He was transported to the hospital, but died three days later of his wound.
The suspect was apprehended, convicted of murder, and sentenced to death. The Georgia Supreme Court overturned his conviction and he was tried a second time, again convicted of murder, and again sentenced to death.
On August 21st, 1930, the subject, along with another condemned murderer, escaped from the Fulton County Jail. He was recaptured six years later in Enid, Oklahoma, and returned to Georgia. On October 14th, 1936, Governor Herman E. Talmadge commuted his sentence to life. On May 22nd, 1938, he escaped from a prison work camp in Chattooga County. He was recaptured two weeks later in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Just before he was to be returned to Georgia, Oklahoma officials discovered that he was responsible for the attempted murder of a man and his wife in Hennessay, Oklahoma, just before he was recaptured the first time. On August 9th, 1938, he was convicted of two counts of attempted murder and sentenced to two concurrent 10 year sentences in the Oklahoma Penitentiary.
Patrolman McDaniel had served with the Atlanta Police Department for 17 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-57A426E4- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman McDaniel gave the Atlanta Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Atlanta community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman McDaniel.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman John E. McDaniel 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 GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Atlanta Police Department, 58 of 88 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John E. McDaniel's cause is highlighted.
How John E. McDaniel Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John E. McDaniel is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John E. McDaniel was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
87 officers from Atlanta Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
