John S. Reese

Cleveland Division of Police — Cleveland, OH

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch September 2, 1976

Age 27

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

The Vigil Panel 117 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 118

Incident

Patrolman John Reese succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained three weeks earlier after he and his partner responded to a call involving a man with a gun at 10127 South Blvd. When they arrived at the scene at 12:21 AM, they were told by the suspect's mother that the man wanted to kill himself but had left the home. The officers patrolled the area around the home for a short time and then returned to the home. As they approached the home, they noticed several people standing on the porch. As they continued to approach the porch, the suspect suddenly yelled out that he was not going back to jail and immediately shot himself in the stomach. The suspect's father then attempted to subdue him but knocked him off the porch. The suspect then began firing at the officers, striking Patrolman Reese. Although wounded, Patrolman Reese was able to return fire and strike the suspect. The suspect died a short time later as a result of the shot he inflicted upon himself. Patrolman Reese was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital where he died three weeks later. Patrolman Reese was a United States Army Vietnam War veteran and had served with the Cleveland Division of Police for three years.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-62FD6A8B
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Reese gave the Cleveland Division of Police 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Cleveland Division of Police

Location Cleveland, OH

Platform Identity cdpd.cuyahoga.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 2, 1976

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 27

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber

Offender Committed suicide

Military Service

John S. Reese served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman John S. Reese 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 OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Cleveland Division of Police, 83 of 119 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.7% of this agency's fallen.

Cleveland Division of Police

of 119 officers

69.7% Felonious

OH — Statewide

572

of 991 officers

57.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious