Roll of Honor
John Stuart Trettin
Incident
Police Officer John Trettin was shot and fatally wounded by a bullet fired from the roof of a housing project at 25th and Jackson Streets as he and several officers investigated a report of shots being fired. He died four days later from a gunshot wound to the head. A 15-year-old youth was arrested the next day and charged with murder. The suspect, who told police, "I just wanted to kill a cop," was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life on September 21st, 1976. In September 2017, the subject was resentenced to 44 years to life in prison, making him eligible for parole, following a United States Supreme Court ruling prohibiting mandatory life sentences for juvenile offenders. Officer Trettin was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War and had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for five years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three young children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-FB81A5C4- 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.
Police Officer Trettin gave the Philadelphia Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John Stuart Trettin served in the Army (1966â1968) before joining law enforcement.
Police Officer John Stuart Trettin 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%.
At Philadelphia Police Department, 162 of 378 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Stuart Trettin's cause is highlighted.
How John Stuart Trettin Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 44 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Stuart Trettin is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Stuart Trettin was killed by rifle.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
377 officers from Philadelphia Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
