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John P. Looney
Agency patch
Police Officer

John P. Looney

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department — St. Louis, MO
Accident
United States flag Missouri flag
End of Watch September 3, 1900
Age 41
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
The Vigil Panel 16 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 175

Incident

Officer John Looney and Officer Nicholas Beckman were electrocuted while attempting to use call boxes on their beats. Earlier in the evening a power line consisting of 3200 volts had crossed onto the police call box circuit at Eight and Carr Streets. The crossing of the wires caused the current to go through the call boxes. Officer Beckman was electrocuted at the call box on 18th Street between Washington Street and Carr Street. Officer Looney was electrocuted at the call box at 12th and Morgan Streets. Officer Michael Burke died of his injuries one year later. Thirteen other officers were also injured in the incident. Officer Looney had served with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department for seven years. He was survived by his wife and two children and is buried at Calvary Cemetery and Mausoleum in St. Louis, Missouri.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children and is buried at Calvary Cemetery and Mausoleum in St.

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.
Police Officer Looney gave the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Looney.

— 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 September 3, 1900
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 41
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

John is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1900, 17 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 124th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 41. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. John had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

September holds 9.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13.4%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer John P. Looney

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department · End of Watch September 3, 1900

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 34-W

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