Roll of Honor

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Patrolman

John F. Creghan

Ridley Township Police Department — Folsom, PA

Felonious

End of Watch August 26, 1923

Age 60

Tour of Duty 13 yrs

The Vigil Panel 45 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Patrolman Creghan was shot and killed when he was caught in the middle of a turf war between rival gangs. He was patrolling in front of a house if ill-repute when the shootout started in which several hundreds shots were fired. A .33 caliber bullet struck Patrolman Creghan in the chest, killing him. No suspects were ever identified and his case remains open. Patrolman Creghan had been with the agency for 13 years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-PA-EA56D1B2
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 Creghan gave the Ridley Township Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Folsom community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Creghan.

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

Agency

Department Ridley Township Police Department

Location Folsom, PA

Platform Identity rtpd.delaware.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 26, 1923

Tour of Duty 13 yrs

Age 60

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .33 caliber

Offender Never identified

Patrolman John F. Creghan 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 PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

Ridley Township Police Department

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

PA — Statewide

597

of 1,261 officers

47.3% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John F. Creghan's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How John F. Creghan Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Never identified

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John F. Creghan is highlighted in Aug.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John F. Creghan was killed by handgun; .33 caliber.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518