John Black
Agency patch
Detective Sergeant

John Black

Jersey City Police Department — Jersey City, NJ
Felonious
End of Watch May 22, 1923
Age 31
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
The Vigil Panel 45 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Sergeant John Black and Patrolman Clarence Weir were shot and killed while assisting other officers attempt to apprehend a fugitive who had escaped from prison and was wanted for robbery. When the officers arrived at the house they allowed the man's female acquaintance to get dressed. As they waited the woman suddenly appeared and opened fire, wounding one of the officers. The male suspect then held the other officers at gunpoint and ordered them away. As they left he pushed his gun into Sergeant Black's chest. As Sergeant Black attempted to push it away he was shot. Patrolman Weir ran into another room where he was shot and killed by the female suspect. Both suspects were arrested and sent to trial only a few days later. The male suspect was convicted of two counts of first degree murder and executed in the electric chair January 15th, 1924. Even though an officer testified that he saw the female suspect shoot Patrolman Weir she was acquitted. Detective Black had serve with the Jersey City Police Department for seven years.

Survivors

He a widower and was survived by his son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtqwv2xw4dg1x4s6h9ba0
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew John. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Sergeant Black gave the Jersey City Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Jersey City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Black.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Jersey City, Hudson County, NJ
Platform Identity jpd.hudson.nj.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 22, 1923
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 31
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

John is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% 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 1923, 199 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 14th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 31. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. John had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Jersey City Police Department has 41 officers remembered here, John among them.

Detective Sergeant John Black

Jersey City Police Department · End of Watch May 22, 1923

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 54-E

↑