Patrolman

John F. Donovan Jr.

Accident
End of Watch October 1, 1963
Age 37
Badge 6462
The Vigil Panel 98 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Donovan succumbed to injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash a week earlier while pursuing a speeder on Cross Bay Boulevard near North Channel Bridge. He was taken to the Howard Park hospital where he died after never regaining consciousness He was assigned to Highway Unit 3, and survived by his expectant wife, and two-year old son.

Survivors

He was assigned to Highway Unit 3, and survived by his expectant wife, and two-year old son.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Donovan served with the New York City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Donovan.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location New York, NY
Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 1, 1963
Age 37
Badge Number 6462
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

John is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 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 1963, 58 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 77th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 37. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36.

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

When

October holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

New York City Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, John among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman John F. Donovan Jr.

New York City Police Department · End of Watch October 1, 1963

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 34-E

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