Roll of Honor
John Thomas Scanlon
Incident
Police Officer John Scanlon was shot and killed after he and another officer cleared the scene of a burglary call at the intersection of France Avenue North and Lakeland Avenue. After clearing the scene, the second officer left, but Officer Scanlon remained in his patrol car doing paperwork. Although they did not locate a suspect on their initial search, the man returned to the scene, approached Officer Scanlon's vehicle, and opened fire from the driver's side. The suspect, 43, was later convicted of Officer Scanlon's murder and sentenced to life in prison. He was denied parole in 2012 and 2022, and is eligible for parole in the fall of 2025. Officer Scanlon was a United States Vietnam War veteran and had served with the Robbinsdale Police Department for 11 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and adopted son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MN-FB2DEC4E- 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.
Police Officer Scanlon gave the Robbinsdale Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Robbinsdale 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 Thomas Scanlon served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer John Thomas Scanlon 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 MN, 173 of 293 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59% of this state's fallen. That is 4.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Thomas Scanlon's cause is highlighted.
How John Thomas Scanlon Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Thomas Scanlon is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Thomas Scanlon was killed by gun; unknown type.