John James Fitzpatrick
Agency patch
Police Officer

John James Fitzpatrick

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI
Felonious
End of Watch October 9, 1987
Age 41
Tour of Duty 18 yrs
Badge 1697
The Vigil Panel 132 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Jack Fitzpatrick was struck and killed by a drunk driver while on patrol at Van Dyke and East Outer Drive. At 2:30 a.m., Officer Fitzpatrick was a passenger in the patrol vehicle traveling north on Van Dyke when they were hit by the driver of a car driving east on East Outer Drive, who ran a red light at 80 mph. The patrol car was pushed across three lanes of traffic. Officer Fitzpatrick died at the scene, and two other officers were injured. The driver, who had a .25 blood alcohol level, was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 10-15 years in prison. Officer Fitzpatrick served with the Detroit Police Department for 18 years and was a member of the tactical services section.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, daughter, and two sons.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Police Officer Fitzpatrick gave the Detroit Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Fitzpatrick.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Detroit, Wayne County, MI
Platform Identity detpd.wayne.mi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 9, 1987
Tour of Duty 18 yrs
Age 41
Badge Number 1697
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Automobile

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
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1987, 97 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 55th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 41. 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 18 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

October holds 7.9% 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 automobile, in 4.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer John James Fitzpatrick

Detroit Police Department · End of Watch October 9, 1987

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 58-E

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