Roll of Honor
Incident
Location: Washington Weapon: Blunt object Offender: Convicted of manslaughter
Special Agent John True was killed when he interrupted three men who were breaking into a railroad storage shed in search of tools to free their car, which had become stuck in the mud near South and 2nd Street. The men then dragged his body underneath a nearby bridge at the foot of Pacific Avenue and fled on foot, leaving the car.
The license plate number on the car led police to a residence where two suspects, 17 and 19, were apprehended. The third suspect was apprehended four days later in San Francisco. Two of them were charged with murder, and the third was charged as an accessory to murder.
The suspects admitted they resisted arrest and said that Agent True fell and hit his head on something hard. The investigating detective introduced evidence that he was hit on the head with something hard that caused his death. Both suspects were convicted of manslaughter. One was sentenced to 2.5 to 5 years and the other to 5 to 10 years. Charges were dismissed against the third suspect. He was tried in a different court on an unrelated case of several robberies in Kitsap County and sentenced to 10 to 30 years.
Agent True was survived by his wife, brother, and sister.
Survivors
Agent True was survived by his wife, brother, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-6185E01B- 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.
Special Agent True served with the Northern Pacific Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the St. Paul community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent True.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Agent John M. True 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 MN, 173 of 293 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59% of this state's fallen. That is 4.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Northern Pacific Railroad Police Department, 6 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John M. True's cause is highlighted.
How John M. True Compares
Offender Outcome
Convicted of manslaughter
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John M. True is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John M. True was killed by blunt object.
Incident Location
, WA.
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Northern Pacific Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
