John P. Finnegan
Agency patch
Detective

John P. Finnegan

Felonious
End of Watch May 18, 1962
Age 29
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Badge 1613
The Vigil Panel 97 ›
Gender Male

Incident

John P. Finnegan, a native of Brooklyn, joined the New York City Police Department in October 1956. He was awarded a meritorious citation for chasing down and capturing an armed man who had robbed a cab driver, and he became a detective with the 70th Squad, carrying shield 1613.

On 18 May 1962 he and his partner, Detective Luke J. Fallon, were on patrol when they learned of a robbery in progress at a tobacco and candy shop in Borough Park. As they entered the store they were met by a hail of gunfire. They fired back as they fell, and both were killed. Five suspects were rounded up within five days.

Detective Finnegan was 29. He was given an Inspector's funeral, with a Requiem Mass at St. Teresa's Church on Sterling Place, and was buried in Calvary Cemetery on 23 May 1962. He was survived by his wife and their two children.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
October 18, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Finnegan gave the New York City Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Finnegan.

— 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 May 18, 1962
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Age 29
Badge Number 1613
Gender Male
Assignment 70 Detective Squad

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 1962, 67 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 107th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 29. 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 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

May holds 8% 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

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective John P. Finnegan

New York City Police Department · End of Watch May 18, 1962

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 58-E

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