Police Officer John J. McGovern, Newark Police Division, New Jersey

Police Officer John J. McGovern

Newark Police Division, New Jersey

End of Watch Sunday, October 13, 1912

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John J. McGovern

Police Officer John McGovern was shot and killed while questioning three suspicious men across from the Webster Street School on Crane Street.

As he spoke with two of the men the third man stepped behind him and shot him in the back four times.

The shooter and two of his relatives were arrested. In two trials he was found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to death. In 1914 his third trial resulted in a murder conviction and he was sentenced to 13 to 27 years. He was paroled on May 2, 1922.

Officer McGovern was a U.S. Army veteran of the Spanish-American War and had served with the Newark Police Department for 2-1/2 years. He was survived by his wife, two children, father, and sister.

Bio

Age 33
Tour 2 years, 6 months
Badge Not available
Military Veteran

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Handgun; .32 caliber
Offender Paroled in 1922

suspicious person

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Officer McGovern,
On today, the 110th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice-not just for your Community but for our Country as well when you served with the U.S. Army as a member of the 6th Cavalry Regiment during the Spanish-American War.

R.I.P.
USBP

Anonymous
United States Border Patrol

October 13, 2022