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John J. Sheridan
Agency patch
Detective Sergeant

John J. Sheridan

New York City Police Department — New York, NY
Felonious
United States flag New York flag
End of Watch July 16, 1902
Age 47
Tour of Duty 25 yrs
The Vigil Panel 18 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 1,221

Incident

John J. Sheridan was a detective of the 75th Precinct in Long Island City, Queens, known among his comrades as a remarkable shot and a popular officer.

Early on the morning of 16 July 1902, he and his partner, Detective John Shelbury, were out hunting the thieves behind a string of break-ins. On Henry Street near Jackson Avenue, Sheridan saw two men acting suspiciously and moved to arrest them. They opened fire. One bullet struck him above the eye and another in the heart; his own revolver had failed to fire. Shelbury, a block away, ran toward the shots and found him lying in the shadows. Sheridan tried to speak and died there. He was about forty.

Three men were arrested on suspicion of the killing. He left his wife, a son and a daughter.

Survivors

Sergeant Sheridan served with the New York City Police Department for 25 years and was survived by his son and daughter.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
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August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

25 years. You could have gone home.
Detective Sergeant Sheridan gave the New York City Police Department 25 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, Detective Sergeant Sheridan.

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

Agency

Department New York City Police Department
Type Police Department
Location New York, NY
Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 16, 1902
Tour of Duty 25 yrs
Age 47
Gender Male
Assignment 75 Precinct

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun; Revolver

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.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1902, 104 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 49th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 47. 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 25 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

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; revolver, in 0.9% 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

Detective Sergeant John J. Sheridan

New York City Police Department · End of Watch July 16, 1902

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 42-E

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