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John R. Phelan
Police Officer

John R. Phelan

Baltimore Police Department — Baltimore, MD
Felonious
United States flag Maryland flag
End of Watch September 29, 1956
Age 21
Tour of Duty 4 mo
The Vigil Panel 203 · Column 2 · Line 12 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 150

Incident

Police Officer John Phelan was shot and killed by a wounded suspect after the juvenile gained possession of his service revolver while he was watching him in the ambulance. He and another officer had just been involved in a shooting with the juvenile who had attempted to rob a liquor store with two accomplices. The juvenile was wounded in the leg during the shootout and was being transported to a hospital when he began to struggle with the officers in the ambulance. The ambulance came to a stop at the intersection of Baker Street and Poplar Grove Street. The subject and the two officers ended up outside of the ambulance. The boy was able to disarm Officer Phelan before shooting him in the chest and the other officer in the leg. The boy was shot a second time and taken into custody and then admitted in the hospital. His two companions, one his brother 19, and the other 22, were apprehended a few days later. The killer, 17, was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death. His sentenced was later commuted to life. The other two were convicted of robbing the liquor store and several more robberies. Both were sentenced to long prison terms. Officer Phelan had served with the Baltimore City Police Department for four months.

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 Phelan served with the Baltimore City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Baltimore community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Phelan.

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

Agency

Department Baltimore Police Department
Type Other
Location Baltimore, MD
Platform Identity baltpd.baltimore.md.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 29, 1956
Tour of Duty 4 mo
Age 21
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's 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.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1956, 47 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 141st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 21. 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 0.3 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 9.1% 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 officer's handgun, in 5.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Baltimore Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, John among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer John R. Phelan

Baltimore Police Department · End of Watch September 29, 1956

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 12-W

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