Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Sheridan succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained four days earlier when he was shot in the spine while attempting to arrest two suspects at Woodward Avenue and Adelaide Street. After being shot, he was transported to Receiving Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. Officer Sheridan, who was assigned to the Thirteenth Precinct, had gone to the police call box at the intersection where two cab drivers directed him toward two men entering a cab across the street. As he walked over to investigate he was shot int the chest and his spinal cord was severed. He had unknowingly confronted two hold-up men. The suspect who killed Officer Sheridan and his accomplice, both 27, were convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Two years later one suspect stabbed and seriously wounded a fellow inmate. On December 24, 1967, he was paroled. Officer Sheridan had served with the Detroit Police Department for 3 years and was assigned to the Canfield Station.
Survivors
He was survived by his mother and two brothers, one of whom also served as an officer with the Detroit Police Department at the time.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MI-3A1BB989- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Sheridan gave the Detroit Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Sheridan.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer John R. Sheridan is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.
In MI, 426 of 718 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.3% of this state's fallen. That is 59.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Detroit Police Department, 177 of 250 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John R. Sheridan's cause is highlighted.
How John R. Sheridan Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John R. Sheridan is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John R. Sheridan was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
249 officers from Detroit Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
