John J. Donovan
Agency patch
Police Officer

John J. Donovan

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Felonious
End of Watch September 25, 1903
Age 24
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo
Badge 2002
The Vigil Panel 18 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Policeman John Donovan was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a robbery suspect.

The suspect attempted to flee but was shot and wounded by other officers and was taken into custody.

The man was sentenced to death and executed on September 29th, 1904.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtmtf1f6vpxnhen6rf31j
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew John. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

You barely got started.
Police Officer Donovan gave the Philadelphia Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Donovan.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA
Platform Identity ppd.philadelphia.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 25, 1903
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo
Age 24
Badge Number 2002
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

John is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1903, 103 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 50th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 24. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. John had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Philadelphia Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, John among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer John J. Donovan

Philadelphia Police Department · End of Watch September 25, 1903

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 25-W

↑