John J. Cummings

Schenectady Police Department — Schenectady, NY

Cardiac

End of Watch May 18, 1953

Age 50

Tour of Duty 28 yrs

The Vigil Panel 89 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 8

Incident

Lieutenant John Cummings suffered a fatal heart attack during a vehicle pursuit of a stolen vehicle.

Around 5:00 a.m., Lieutenant Cummings and his partner attempted to pull over a car missing a license plate. When the vehicle did not stop, Lieutenant Cummings coordinated the pursuit with responding officers. During the chase, Lieutenant Cummings collapsed against his partner, who was driving the patrol car. His partner left the pursuit and transported Lieutenant Cummings to St. Clare's Hospital, where he was unable to be resuscitated.

The driver of the stolen car was apprehended and charged with larceny and burglary.

Lieutenant Cummings had served with the Schenectady Police Department for 28 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, daughter, two brothers, and a niece.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-F20771D2
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

28 years. You could have gone home.
Lieutenant Cummings gave the Schenectady Police Department 28 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Schenectady community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Cummings.

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

Agency

Department Schenectady Police Department

Location Schenectady, NY

Platform Identity schepd.schenectady.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 18, 1953

Tour of Duty 28 yrs

Age 50

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

Lieutenant John J. Cummings is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In NY, 99 of 2,147 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 4.6% of this state's fallen. That is 0.6 percentage points above the national rate of 4%.

At Schenectady Police Department, 1 of 9 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 11.1% of this agency's fallen.

Schenectady Police Department

of 9 officers

11.1% Cardiac

NY — Statewide

of 2,147 officers

4.6% Cardiac

Nationwide

1,306

of 32,508 officers

4% Cardiac