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John P. Sears
Agency patch
Patrolman

John P. Sears

Columbus Division of Police — Columbus, OH
Accident
United States flag Ohio flag
End of Watch November 30, 1936
Age 46
Tour of Duty 14 yrs
The Vigil Panel 72 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 58

Incident

Patrolman John Sears fell to his death from the Atlas Apartments on Long and High Street in Columbus. While executing a search warrant for a murder suspect, he attempted to force entry into one of the rooms. He kicked the door open, and the top of the door sprang back at him, knocking him over the banister to the ground below. The building was the same location where Patrolman Sears' partner, Patrolman Edward Murphy, was shot and killed in the line of duty the previous year. Patrolman Sears had served with the Columbus Division of Police for 14 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, three children, his mother, and two brothers.

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.
Patrolman Sears gave the Columbus Division of Police 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Sears.

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

Agency

Department Columbus Division of Police
Type Other
Location Columbus, Franklin County, OH
Platform Identity cdpd.franklin.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 30, 1936
Tour of Duty 14 yrs
Age 46
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 1936, 88 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 16th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 46. 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 14 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

November holds 8.4% 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

Columbus Division of Police has 59 officers remembered here, John among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman John P. Sears

Columbus Division of Police · End of Watch November 30, 1936

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 39-W

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