Roll of Honor
Incident
Policeman John Ryan suffered a fatal heart attack while struggling with a prisoner near the intersection of 28th Street and Girard Avenue.
He had arrested a drunk and disorderly man at a saloon on Girard Street and was walking him to a callbox located at 28th Street and Flora Avenue Street. The man started resisting and began to struggle with Policeman Ryan. Policeman Ryan collapsed during the struggle. The man fled but was chased by several citizens. He was apprehended by another officer several minutes later.
Policeman Ryan was taken to a local doctor's office where he was pronounced dead. The man who started the struggle was arrested and charged with murder.
Policeman Ryan had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for four years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-9208C472- 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 Ryan gave the Philadelphia Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Ryan.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer John J. Ryan 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 PA, 118 of 1,261 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 9.4% of this state's fallen. That is 5.4 percentage points above the national rate of 4%.
At Philadelphia Police Department, 37 of 378 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 9.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Cardiac compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John J. Ryan's cause is highlighted.
How John J. Ryan Compares
Offender Outcome
Arrested
When Cardiac Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Cardiac deaths across the full memorial record. John J. Ryan is highlighted in Mar.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
377 officers from Philadelphia Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
