Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Jack Bresnahan succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained five days earlier in a case mistaken identity by another officer near the intersection of West 49th Street and 9th Avenue.
While off duty, Patrolman Bresnahan witnessed two men fighting and attempted to separate them when one of them attacked him. As Patrolman Bresnahan struck the subject with his blackjack the man fled on foot towards 9th Avenue. Another officer who was in plainclothes witnessed Patrolman Bresnahan running and attempted to stop him. A struggle ensued between the two officers who did realize each other's identities. The officer, fearing for his life after he was struck in the head by Patrolman Bresnahan's blackjack, shot him in the abdomen. Other nearby officers who were on duty came to the scene after being attracted by the gunfire quickly recognized both officers as off duty and rushed Patrolman Bresnahan to Roosevelt Hospital where he succumbed to the gunshot wound two days later.
On April 12th, 1908, the officer who shot Patrolman Bresnahan was acquitted by a coroner's jury of a charge of homicide.
Patrolman Bresnahan served with the New York City Police Department for only two months.
Survivors
He was survived by two brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-24194F3D- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Bresnahan served with the New York City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Bresnahan.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman John Bresnahan is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NY, 645 of 2,147 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At New York City Police Department, 283 of 1237 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 22.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Bresnahan's cause is highlighted.
How John Bresnahan Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. John Bresnahan is highlighted in Apr.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1,236 officers from New York City Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
