John L. Pendergrass
Agency patch
Patrolman

John L. Pendergrass

Felonious
End of Watch April 3, 1953
Age 53
Tour of Duty 24 yrs
Badge 5253
The Vigil Panel 89 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman John Pendergrass was shot and killed on West 140th Street near 5th Avenue, in Harlem, while chasing a subject wanted for robbing a liquor store. Patrolman Pendergrass was able to return fire and wound the suspect in the arm. The subject was taken into custody the next day and charged with murder. He was later convicted of Patrolman Pendergrass' murder and executed on July 15, 1954. Patrolman Pendergrass was posthumously awarded the New York City Police Department's Medal of Honor. Patrolman Pendergrass served with the New York City Police Department for 24 years and was assigned to the West 135th Street Station (32nd Precinct).

Survivors

He was survived by his mother and sister.

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

24 years. You could have gone home.
Patrolman Pendergrass gave the New York City Police Department 24 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Pendergrass.

— 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 April 3, 1953
Tour of Duty 24 yrs
Age 53
Badge Number 5253
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 1953, 72 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 98th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 53. 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 24 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

April holds 8.4% 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

Patrolman John L. Pendergrass

New York City Police Department · End of Watch April 3, 1953

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 61-E

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