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Incident
Officer John J. Winn died as a result of injuries received in an assault seventeen months earlier. Office Winn was checking the doors of a church and two men attacked him when he entered the dark back stairwell to check the door. They attacked him with a tire iron, leaving him for dead, to take his pistol so they could hold up a liquor store and get money to buy drugs. However, Officer Winn wasn’t dead. He crawled and walked to a local pay phone where he called for an ambulance. His optic nerve was damaged and he went blind right away. Officer Winn lived for another seventeen months, dying as a result of the severe injuries that he sustained in that horrendous beating. Both suspects where apprehended and convicted of assaulting Officer Winn. One was sentenced to 15 to 25 years in prison and the other to 10 to 15 years.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
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Tributes
30 years. You could have gone home.
Police Officer Winn gave the Lowell Police Department 30 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Lowell community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Winn.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Lowell Police Department has lost 4 officers; 3 of them killed feloniously.
John is one of 199 officers killed feloniously in MA, 42.4% of the 469 remembered there.
John is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
John is one of 17,622 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1971, 1 officer in MA was killed feloniously, the 51st heaviest of 107 years on record. The heaviest was 1908, with 6.
In 1971, 168 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 18th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1971, 181 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 19th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
John was 58. Of the 195 killed feloniously in MA whose age is recorded, half were between 34 and 52.5; the middle age was 42. John had served 30 years; the middle length of service was 11 years.
John was 58. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. John had served 30 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
John was 58. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. John had served 30 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
May holds 7.5% of these deaths in MA; October holds the most, 10.6%. Mondays: 19.1%.
May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.
May holds 8.5% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Mondays: 13.8%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 75% of all 4 deaths at Lowell Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was blunt object, in 33.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 42.4% of all 469 deaths in MA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was blunt object, in 2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was blunt object, in 1.2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was blunt object, in 1.1% of these deaths.
His people
Lowell Police Department has 4 officers remembered here, John among them.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 56-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Lowell Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
