Patrolman

John McDermott

Illness
End of Watch March 22, 1927
Age 29
The Vigil Panel 52 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman John McDermott died of rabies he contracted when he was bitten by an injured dog he was trying to help.

Patrolman McDermott was on his post when a dog, dragging an injured leg, approached. The temperature that night was six degrees above zero, and the dog whined from cold and hunger. Patrolman McDermott opened the door of his police booth, and the dog entered. Patrolman McDermott began to pet the dog on his head when the dog suddenly snapped at him. The dog's teeth cut through the cloth of his uniform and left a small scratch on his arm.

Two months later, Patrolman McDermott began to feel pain and develop symptoms of rabies. He was taken to Kings County Hospital where he died.

Patrolman McDermott was assigned the 44th Precinct, which is the present day 75th Precinct.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
September 9, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman McDermott served with the New York City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman McDermott.

— 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 March 22, 1927
Age 29
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Illness
Cause Detail Duty related illness

The Sacrifice · Illness

John is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% 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 1927, 2 officers in the United States were lost to illness, the 46th heaviest of 108 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 564.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 29. Of the 1,996 lost to illness in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 42 and 58; the middle age was 51.

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

When

March holds 5.9% of these deaths in the United States; October holds the most, 14.9%. Tuesdays: 13.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Illness deaths account for 7.4% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 3rd most common cause.

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 McDermott

New York City Police Department · End of Watch March 22, 1927

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 48-E

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