John B. Gearty
Agency patch
Patrolman

John B. Gearty

Minneapolis Police Department — Minneapolis, MN
Cardiac
End of Watch July 10, 1939
Age 46
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Gender Male

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

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Stewardship
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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

Type Police Department
Location Minneapolis, Hennepin County, MN
Platform Identity mpd.hennepin.mn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 10, 1939
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Age 46
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

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.

34,102 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 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.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

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.

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%. Mondays: 12.9%.

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.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Minneapolis Police Department has 50 officers remembered here, John among them.

Across the years

Patrolman John B. Gearty

Minneapolis Police Department · End of Watch July 10, 1939

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 37-W

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