John M. Kelly
Agency patch
Police Officer

John M. Kelly

Accident
End of Watch July 17, 2000
Age 31
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
The Vigil Panel 328 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Kelly was killed when his cruiser struck a utility pole during a pursuit of a stolen motorcycle.

Officer Kelly, a member of the department's auto-larceny unit, was working a red-light enforcement detail when he stopped a motorcycle with stolen license plates. As Officer Kelly approached the motorcycle, the operator fled on the motorcycle. Officer Kelly pursued the suspect when he lost control of his unmarked cruiser, a 1999 Chevy Lumina, and collided into the utility pole. The motorcycle driver fled the scene, but was arrested after police received a tip as to his identity.

The suspect was convicted of attempted assault second-degree, reckless endangerment, possession of stolen property, leaving the scene of an accident, and driving with a suspended license. He was sentenced to only six years in prison.

Officer Kelly was posthomously awarded the agency's Medal of Honor

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 Kelly gave the New York City Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Kelly.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location New York, NY
Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 17, 2000
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
Age 31
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

John is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% 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
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 2000, 85 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 19th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 31. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. John had served 9 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; August holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13.4%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

New York City Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, John among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer John M. Kelly

New York City Police Department · End of Watch July 17, 2000

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 59-W

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