Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman John Franken succumbed to gunshot wounds he received three days earlier when he and another officer responded to a report of a man shooting two other men and a woman on Kenyon Avenue. The suspect was apprehended and sentenced to death for Patrolman Franken's memorial. He was executed in the electric chair at the Ohio State Penitentiary on November 30, 1928. Patrolman Franken had been with the Cincinnati Police Department for nearly 20 years. He was survived by his father and sister. He was buried at Saint Joseph Old Cemetery. Kenyon Avenue was demolished for Interstate 71 and Interstate 75 Interchange.
Survivors
He was survived by his father and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-FBC36027- 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 Franken gave the Cincinnati Police Department 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cincinnati community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Franken.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman John A. Franken 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 Cincinnati Police Department, 63 of 106 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John A. Franken's cause is highlighted.
How John A. Franken Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1928
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John A. Franken is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John A. Franken was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
105 officers from Cincinnati Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
