Police Officer

John N. Blanford

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Cardiac
End of Watch July 5, 1907
Age 63
Tour of Duty 33 yrs
The Vigil Panel 21 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer John Blanford suffered a fatal heart attack after struggling with a subject he had arrested for disorderly conduct at approximately 7:00 am.

He was walking to the police station to report to duty when encountered the man near the intersection of 18th Street and Walnut Street acting in a disorderly manner. He placed the man under arrest and began walking him to the police station at 15th Street and Locust Street. After walking several blocks the man began to struggle with Officer Blanford and attempted to escape.

Officer Blanford was able to subdue him and continued to the police station, where the man again attempted to escape. He was subdued by Policeman Blanford and other officers and placed in a cell. Officer Blanford collapsed moments later.

Officer Blanford had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 33 years and was assigned to the 5th District.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

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Tributes

33 years. You could have gone home.
Police Officer Blanford gave the Philadelphia Police Department 33 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Blanford.

— 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 July 5, 1907
Tour of Duty 33 yrs
Age 63
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac
Cause Detail Heart attack
Weapon Person

The Sacrifice · Cardiac

John is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% 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
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1907, 4 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, the 92nd heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 63. Of the 1,249 lost to cardiac events in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 55; the middle age was 48. John had served 33 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.

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

When

July holds 7.2% of these deaths in the United States; January holds the most, 9.6%. Fridays: 15.8%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Cardiac deaths account for 4.7% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 4th most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 16.1% 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

Police Officer John N. Blanford

Philadelphia Police Department · End of Watch July 5, 1907

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 27-E

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