Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Kelly was killed when his cruiser struck a utility pole during a pursuit of a stolen motorcycle.
Officer Kelly, a member of the department's auto-larceny unit, was working a red-light enforcement detail when he stopped a motorcycle with stolen license plates. As Officer Kelly approached the motorcycle, the operator fled on the motorcycle. Officer Kelly pursued the suspect when he lost control of his unmarked cruiser, a 1999 Chevy Lumina, and collided into the utility pole. The motorcycle driver fled the scene, but was arrested after police received a tip as to his identity.
The suspect was convicted of attempted assault second-degree, reckless endangerment, possession of stolen property, leaving the scene of an accident, and driving with a suspended license. He was sentenced to only six years in prison.
Officer Kelly was posthomously awarded the agency's Medal of Honor
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-B0BD9860- 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.
Police Officer Kelly gave the New York City Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Kelly.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer John M. Kelly 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 M. Kelly's cause is highlighted.
How John M. Kelly Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. John M. Kelly is highlighted in Jul.
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.
