Patrolman John Shipp, aged 57, was a dedicated officer with the Cleveland Division of Police. On the evening of May 6, 1900, he responded to a burglary call at 23 Charles Street. As he and his partner, Charles Dangler, split up to cover the house, Shipp passed under a pantry window. The burglar leaned out and fired three shots, striking Shipp in the jugular vein, the right side of his back just below the ribs, and his left leg above the knee.
Despite his mortal wounds, Shipp managed to stagger to the corner of the house and inform his partner, "I’m shot, Charley."
Shipp was unable to return fire and succumbed to his injuries. His partner, Dangler, pursued the suspect who fled the scene. The suspect was eventually apprehended in Indianapolis, Indiana, and convicted of Shipp's murder. He was executed on June 21, 1901. Shipp had served with the Cleveland Division of Police for seven years and was survived by his wife and two children from a previous marriage.
The case drew significant attention, and Detective Benjamin Tobias Thornton of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department participated in the stakeout and arrest of Shipp's murderer. Unfortunately, Thornton succumbed to pneumonia he contracted during the investigation. Shipp's name is inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C.
Shipp's death was a tragic event that highlighted the dangers faced by law enforcement officers in the line of duty. His courage and dedication to his work were remembered by his colleagues and the community he served.
