Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Skinner was shot and killed by a drunk man whom he had ordered to leave the Fourteenth Street Depot. As the man began to leave Patrolman Skinner and his partner followed him. They got part way down the tracks when the man suddenly stopped. When Patrolman Skinner tapped him on the shoulder and told him again to leave the suspect turned and fired a handgun, fatally wounding Patrolman Skinner. The suspect was apprehended at the scene and claimed that, because he was drunk, he did not know the two were police officers. Patrolman Skinner had been with the agency for two years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-1E030D3D- 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
158 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Skinner gave the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman John W. Skinner 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 W. Skinner's cause is highlighted.
How John W. Skinner Compares
Offender Outcome
Apprehended
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John W. Skinner is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John W. Skinner was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
175 officers from St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
