John Thomas Cousin
Agency patch
Detective

John Thomas Cousin

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Felonious
End of Watch August 15, 1996
Age 48
Tour of Duty 26 yrs
Badge 958
The Vigil Panel 143 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective John Cousin was shot and killed during an attempted robbery while walking outside of his home. After killing Detective Cousin, the suspects stole his weapon. One suspect was arrested after seeking medical attention for a gunshot wound he received when he was shot by Detective Cousin during the robbery attempt. Detective Cousin had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 26 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his son.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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

26 years. You could have gone home.
Detective Cousin gave the Philadelphia Police Department 26 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Cousin.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA
Platform Identity ppd.philadelphia.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 15, 1996
Tour of Duty 26 yrs
Age 48
Badge Number 958
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon 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.

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

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1996, 79 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 86th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 48. 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 26 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective John Thomas Cousin

Philadelphia Police Department · End of Watch August 15, 1996

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 4-E

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