John G. Gordon
Agency patch
Police Officer

John G. Gordon

Detroit Police Department — Detroit, MI
Felonious
End of Watch January 3, 1914
Age 36
Tour of Duty 2 yrs 6 mo
The Vigil Panel 28 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer John Gordon was shot and killed while attempting to arrest five men who had just committed several robberies in the area. Shortly after receiving a lookout for the men, Officer Gordon spotted the group at the intersection of Clinton Street and Dubois Street. As he approached them two of the subjects immediately opened fire. Despite being mortally wounded, Officer Gordon was able to crawl to a call box and call for help. He was taken to a local hospital where he was able to identify four of the five suspects before dying later in the morning. Two of the subjects, 22 and 24, were convicted of murder sentenced to life in prison. On December 12, 1969, the 22-year-old suspect's sentence was commuted to time served. He had been in prison the longest of any inmate. In poor health, he was transferred to a nursing home. Two others were convicted of robbery and sentenced to 7 to 15 years. Officer Gordon had served with the Detroit Police Department for 2-1/2 years and was assigned to the Hunt Street Station.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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.
Police Officer Gordon gave the Detroit Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Detroit community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Gordon.

— 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 January 3, 1914
Tour of Duty 2 yrs 6 mo
Age 36
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

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 1914, 127 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 37th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 36. 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 2.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

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 handgun, in 23.4% 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 G. Gordon

Detroit Police Department · End of Watch January 3, 1914

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 37-E

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