Incident
Patrolman John Gearty suffered a fatal heart attack after being involved in an altercation when he responded to a fight call at Nicollet Avenue and Second Street. While trying to break up the fight, he received blows to the head and chest. After returning to the station, he complained of a headache and was taken to the hospital, where he became unconscious. He had suffered a heart attack and died. Patrolman Gearty had been with the Minneapolis Police Department for 12 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Gearty gave the Minneapolis Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Minneapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Gearty.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Cardiac
Minneapolis Police Department has lost 50 officers; 3 of them lost to cardiac events.
John is one of 26 officers lost to cardiac events in MN, 8.9% of the 293 remembered there.
John is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% of the 27,551 remembered there.
John is one of 1,309 officers lost to cardiac events worldwide, 3.8% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1939, 1 officer in MN was lost to cardiac events, the 3rd heaviest of 24 years on record. The heaviest was 1979, with 2.
In 1939, 5 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, the 89th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
In 1939, 5 officers worldwide were lost to cardiac events, the 89th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
Who
John was 46. Of the 26 lost to cardiac events in MN whose age is recorded, half were between 42.8 and 52; the middle age was 47.5. John had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 16 years.
John was 46. 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 12 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
John was 46. Of the 1,251 lost to cardiac events worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 42.5 and 55; the middle age was 48. John had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
When
July holds 15.4% of these deaths in MN; August holds the most, 19.2%. Mondays: 19.2%.
July holds 7.2% of these deaths in the United States; January holds the most, 9.6%. Mondays: 12.9%.
July holds 7.2% of these deaths worldwide; January holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13%.
How
Cardiac deaths account for 6% of all 50 deaths at Minneapolis Police Department, the 3rd most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 8.9% of all 293 deaths in MN, the 3rd most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 4.7% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 4th most common cause.
Cardiac deaths account for 3.8% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 4th most common cause.
His people
Minneapolis Police Department has 50 officers remembered here, John among them.
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Robert Laughlin Jul 28, 1884
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Charles C. Channels May 27, 1906
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Joseph Ollinger
Jul 15, 1911
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William Joseph Lydon
Nov 25, 1913
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George B. Anderson
Nov 28, 1913
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Otto G. Ostby
May 19, 1915
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Nels C. Anderson
May 31, 1916
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George Connery
Apr 24, 1917
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James A. Weare
Feb 7, 1919
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George Woessner
Jun 24, 1919
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John Francis Young
Jul 13, 1919
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Frank S. Hallett
Aug 25, 1920
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Emil Engstrom
Aug 15, 1923
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Michael J. Lawrence
Dec 30, 1925
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Albert Anderson
Feb 2, 1928
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Clayton J. Seawell
May 4, 1929
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Harry E. Parker
Dec 24, 1930
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Harry McGraw
Feb 1, 1931
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Clayton Olson
Aug 9, 1931
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Harold Hagen
Aug 3, 1932
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Ira Leon Evans
Dec 16, 1932
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Leo R. Gorski
Dec 18, 1932
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John W. Thomas Aug 5, 1933
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Peter Erath May 26, 1934
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Ben J. Lehman
May 3, 1936
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Georgianna Sharrot
Jun 14, 1937
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James H. Trepanier
Sep 20, 1938
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John B. Gearty
Jul 10, 1939
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Adolpf G. Karpinsky
May 22, 1941
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Harold O. Olson
Aug 9, 1941
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John W. O'Neil
Jun 7, 1944
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Donald T. McHale
Mar 25, 1951
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Robert H. Fossum
Aug 17, 1957
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Leo M. Bessner
May 12, 1958
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William F. Herkal
May 11, 1959
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Andrew Ferman Sharp
Aug 17, 1963
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James E. Hendricks
Dec 15, 1963
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Lloyd Ellsworth Reed
Aug 6, 1965
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Richard L. Bergquist
Apr 7, 1969
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Joseph G. Pudlick
Feb 4, 1972
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Inno H. Suek
Sep 30, 1972
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George Anthony Partridge Jr.
May 26, 1976
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Richard Paul Miller, Sr.
Aug 25, 1981
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David Ward Mack
Nov 2, 1986
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Jerome Victor Haaf
Sep 25, 1992
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Paul K. Moen
Jul 1, 1995
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Ward Lee Canfield
Mar 2, 2000
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Melissa Jayne Schmidt
Aug 1, 2002
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David Richard Loeffler
May 29, 2009
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Jamal Mitchell
May 30, 2024
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 37-W
What is kept
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