Patrolman

John J. Sherman

Felonious
End of Watch September 1, 1891
Age 38
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman John Sherman's throat was cut as he attempted to arrest a suspect for disorderly conduct. Patrolman Sherman was summoned to 142-44 West 105th Street in Manhattan in the report of a disorderly male. When Patrolman Sherman attempted to arrest the man, the subject grabbed a razor and cut Patrolman Sherman's throat, killing him. When backup officers arrived they stopped the suspect as he was attempting to escape the scene. The man, 19, was convicted of Patrolman Sherman's murder and was sentenced to death on February 3rd, 1892. He had a history of resisting arrest and causing disturbances. On January 18, 1893, his sentence was commuted to life. Two weeks later he was transferred to the Matteawan Insane Asylum. Patrolman Sherman had served with the New York Police Department for five years and was assigned to the 26th Precinct, the present day 24th Precinct.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

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Tributes

135 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Sherman gave the New York Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

— 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 September 1, 1891
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 38
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Edged weapon

The Sacrifice · Felonious

John is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 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 1891, 62 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 121st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 38. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. John had served 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

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

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 edged weapon, in 2.2% 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 J. Sherman

New York City Police Department · End of Watch September 1, 1891

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 3-W

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