Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant John Donlan was shot and killed while off duty in his home at 346 Kinnear Place.
He heard the sound of glass breaking in his basement and he went to retrieve his service weapon. An unknown suspect then came up from the basement and shot and killed him.
Sergeant Donlan had served with the Seattle Police Department for 30 years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WA-61749A6E- 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
30 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Donlan gave the Seattle Police Department 30 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Seattle community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Donlan.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant John S. Donlan 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 WA, 187 of 339 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.2% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Seattle Police Department, 44 of 60 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 73.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John S. Donlan's cause is highlighted.
How John S. Donlan Compares
Offender Outcome
Never identified
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John S. Donlan is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John S. Donlan was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
59 officers from Seattle Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
