Patrolman

John Smedick

Felonious
End of Watch July 23, 1868
Age 35
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
The Vigil Panel 3 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman John Smedick was shot and killed after being ambushed by a career criminal near the intersection of 1st Avenue and 32nd Street, Manhattan.

Patrolman Smedick was on foot patrol when he was approached by the suspect. Without warning, the suspect shot Patrolman Smedick in the chest. When Patrolman Smedick fell to the ground, the suspect fired again, striking Patrolman Smedick in the head.

A nearby patrolman heard the shots and responded. He chased the suspect on foot while exchanging shots. The suspect was arrested and charged with murder. He was executed by hanging in 1870.

Patrolman Smedick had served with New York Metropolitan Police Force for five years and had been assigned to the 21st Precinct.

Patrolman Smedick was on foot patrol when he was approached by the suspect. Without warning, the suspect shot Patrolman Smedick in the chest. When Patrolman Smedick fell to the ground, the suspect fired again, striking Patrolman Smedick in the head.

A nearby patrolman heard the shots and responded. He chased the suspect on foot while exchanging shots. The suspect was arrested and charged with murder. He was executed by hanging in 1870.

Patrolman Smedick had served with New York Metropolitan Police Force for five years and had been assigned to the 21st 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

158 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Smedick gave the New York Metropolitan Police Force 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 nympd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 23, 1868
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 35
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
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.

34,117 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 1868, 20 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 161st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 35. 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 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

July holds 9.3% 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

New York Metropolitan Police Force has 22 officers remembered here, John among them.

VI

Where

Patrolman John Smedick

New York Metropolitan Police Force · End of Watch July 23, 1868

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 55-W

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