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Incident
Police Officer Jack Jantzen was shot and killed when walking in on a dispute with a gun in progress while off-duty at 5:15 am Officer Jantzen entered a restaurant at the corner of Middle Country Road and Stony Brook Road where a man was holding his wife and a restaurant employee at gunpoint with a 12-gauge shotgun. When Officer Jantzen attempted to intervene, he was shot and killed. The suspect then shot and killed his wife and the restaurant employee. The suspect fled the scene. Officer Jantzen's brother, also a Suffolk County Police Officer, was the first to arrive on the scene and find his brother. The suspect was later apprehended and charged with murder. He was convicted of three counts of second-degree murder and sentenced to 75 years to life. He will be eligible for parole in 2066. Officer Jantzen had been a member of the Suffolk County Police Department for 6 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, son, mother, and brother.
In Our Keeping
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- 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.
Police Officer Jantzen gave the Suffolk County Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Yaphank community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Jantzen.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Suffolk County Police Department has lost 27 officers; 7 of them killed feloniously.
John is one of 739 officers killed feloniously in NY, 34.7% of the 2,132 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 1991, 1 officer at Suffolk County Police Department was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1991, 5 officers in NY were killed feloniously, the 44th heaviest of 154 years on record. The heaviest was 2001, with 32.
In 1991, 85 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 76th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1991, 98 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 65th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
John was 32. Of the 7 killed feloniously at Suffolk County Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 31.5 and 43.5; the middle age was 41. John had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 11 years.
John was 32. Of the 671 killed feloniously in NY whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 43; the middle age was 35. John had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
John was 32. 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 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
John was 32. 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 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
April holds 28.6% of these deaths at Suffolk County Police Department; February holds the most, 28.6%. Sundays: 42.9%.
April holds 6.8% of these deaths in NY; September holds the most, 13.8%. Sundays: 13.5%.
April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.
April holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 25.9% of all 27 deaths at Suffolk County Police Department, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 14.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 34.7% of all 2,132 deaths in NY, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 4.7% 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 shotgun, in 7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 6.3% of these deaths.
His people
Suffolk County Police Department has 27 officers remembered here, John among them.
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John J. Nolan
Apr 17, 1960
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Vincent DeVivo
Oct 28, 1962
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Carmelo A. Cattano
May 30, 1963
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George McMullen
Apr 24, 1969
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George A. Frees
Apr 6, 1971
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Albert A. Willetts
Jun 3, 1971
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Frank D. Cataldo
Nov 3, 1971
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William DeRosa
Jan 31, 1976
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Jack Burkhardt, Sr.
Mar 15, 1977
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Ralph Sorli
Aug 14, 1977
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Carmine Michael Macchia
Jun 15, 1978
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Lawrence Devine
Aug 22, 1981
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Dennis John Wustenhoff
Feb 15, 1990
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John Jantzen
Apr 21, 1991
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James Hutchens
Jul 2, 1992
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Henry J. Stewart
Jul 11, 1992
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John J. Venus
Nov 20, 1994
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Timothy J. Henck
Aug 6, 1995
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Edwin Hernandez
Jul 27, 2004
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Glen L. Ciano
Feb 22, 2009
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Craig L. Capolino
Jan 30, 2013
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James Thomas Farrell
Dec 1, 2017
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Dennis Wallace Reichardt
Oct 4, 2018
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Stephen John Mullen
Dec 7, 2018
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Robert John Van Zeyl
Jan 20, 2021
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Thomas Patrick Compitello
Dec 16, 2022
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Robert John Kirwan
Sep 23, 2023
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 26-W
What is kept
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Others Who Wore This Badge
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