John Fitzpatrick
Agency patch
Detective Sergeant

John Fitzpatrick

Felonious
End of Watch May 21, 1920
Age 34
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
Badge 529
The Vigil Panel 88 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Sergeant John Fitzpatrick died of wounds he received the previous day when he was shot by three men who were breaking into an automobile. Sergeant Fitzpatrick had three suspects under surveillance for over an hour when he observed them attempted to steal an automobile on West 55th Street in Manhattan. When Sergeant Fitzpatrick approached the suspect, one of the men turned and fired two shots, striking Sergeant Fitzpatrick. Despite his wounds, Sergeant Fitzpatrick was able to return fire, but none of the suspects were struck. Sergeant Fitzpatrick was removed to the hospital, where he died the next day from his wounds. The three suspects and two others were arrested and charged in connection with Sergeant Fitzpatrick's murder. Sergeant Fitzpatrick served with the New York City Police Department for 13 years and was survived by his sister. He was assigned to the 29th Precinct Detective Squad, the present day 17th Precinct Detective Squad.

Survivors

Sergeant Fitzpatrick served with the New York City Police Department for 13 years and was survived by his sister.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Detective Sergeant Fitzpatrick gave the New York City Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Fitzpatrick.

— 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 21, 1920
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
Age 34
Badge Number 529
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.

34,117 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 1920, 209 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 9th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 34. 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 13 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 Sergeant John Fitzpatrick

New York City Police Department · End of Watch May 21, 1920

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 32-E

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