Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer John Grogan was shot and killed after responding to a robbery call at 1531 Washington Avenue. As he arrived on the scene the five robbers were attempting to flee and opened fire on him, striking him in the heart. When a bystander came to his aid he was also shot and killed. The five juvenile suspects fled the scene but were apprehended a short time later. Four, ages 16 to 20, were convicted of murder and sentenced to life. One escaped from prison in 1933 and was never captured. Two others escaped from prison in October of 1936. A year later they were captured in Cleveland, Ohio, after committing several bank robberies there. A few days later they escaped from the Cleveland Jail. One was quickly recaptured. The other was recaptured in Philadelphia in a stolen car two months later. Both received 65 year terms in Leavenworth. One, paroled in 1956, was shot and killed a few days later by St. Louis Police as he was commiting an armed robbery. The fourth suspect was paroled in 1939.
Survivors
Officer Grogan had been with the agency for 22 years and was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-08679852- 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
22 years. You could have gone home.
Police Officer Grogan gave the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department 22 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Grogan.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer John H. Grogan 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 MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 9.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, 112 of 176 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John H. Grogan's cause is highlighted.
How John H. Grogan Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John H. Grogan is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John H. Grogan was killed by handgun; revolver.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
175 officers from St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
