Prev Next
Police Officer

John C. Gilmore

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department — St. Louis, MO
Felonious
United States flag Missouri flag
End of Watch December 24, 1861
The Vigil Panel 2 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 175

Incident

Police Officer John Gilmore succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained on December 10th, 1861, while attempting to arrest two burglary suspects. Officer Gilmore had chased the two men after they were caught by a homeowner as they burglarized a home at the corner of Broadway and Jefferson Street. The suspects were able to initially evade capture, however, Officer Gilmore and several other officers believed they knew their identities and went to their rooming house at the corner of 13th Street and Chambers Street. After waiting outside for several hours, Officer Gilmore told the other officers that he would stay at the scene while the other officers went to get breakfast. After the other officers left he went inside of the home's rear kitchen to wait. The men came home a short time later and immediately attacked Officer Gilmore, beating him with slungshots. Officer Gilmore was able to retreat outside where he continued to violently struggle with the men. One of the men pulled out a pistol and shot Officer Gilmore in the jaw before they both fled. Officer Gilmore was taken to his home where he remained until succumbing to his wound.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtmxg78fe77sme55ezear
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

165 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Police Officer Gilmore served with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department
Type Police Department
Location St. Louis, City of Saint Louis, MO
Platform Identity stlopd.saintlouis.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 24, 1861
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.

  3. See the roll
  4. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1861, 16 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 163rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

By month
By day of the week
III

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
IV

His people

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, John among them.

Across the years
V

Where

Police Officer John C. Gilmore

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department · End of Watch December 24, 1861

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 53-W

↑