John Cahill
Agency patch
Constable

John Cahill

Felonious
End of Watch August 15, 1905
The Vigil Panel 20 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Constable John Cahill was shot and killed while attempting to search two men for weapons.

He and another officer had received reports that several men would be armed and went to the location. After searching and releasing several pairs of men they asked one additional pair if they had any guns. One of the men stepped back and immediately opened fire, striking Constable Cahill in the head and torso.

The other officer returned fire as the suspects fled the scene. The suspect was apprehended in New York City five days later.

Constable Cahill was survived by his wife and six children.

Survivors

Constable Cahill was survived by his wife and six children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-90895F95
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew John. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Constable Cahill served with the Haverstraw Village Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Haverstraw community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Cahill.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Location Haverstraw, NY
Platform Identity hpd.rockland.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 15, 1905
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Constable John Cahill 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 NY, 754 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.1% of this state's fallen. That is 19.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

Haverstraw Village Police Department
1
of 1 officers
100% Felonious
NY — Statewide
754
of 2,147 officers
35.1% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Cahill's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How John Cahill Compares

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Cahill is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518