End of Watch: May 6, 1900
Cleveland Police Department
Appointed on December 2, 1892, Patrolman Shipp was a 7-year veteran of the Cleveland Police Department. Patrolman Shipp served the majority of his tenure in the Third District and was described by his superiors and peers as an officer with a great deal of courage and dependability. An officer who could be relied on to accomplish whatever he was assigned. Nonetheless, there does not exist a single word or statement with which to best describe an officer who unselfishly makes the greatest sacrifice of his profession.
On Sunday, May 6, 1900, at 8:30 pm, Patrolman John Shipp and his partner, Charles Dangler, were summoned to 23 Charles Street for a burglary in progress.
Upon arrival, the officers split up in order to cover the house. As Patrolman Shipp passed under a pantry window, the burglar leaned out and fired three shots striking Shipp. Patrolman Shipp sustained gunshot wounds in the jugular vein, the right side of his back just below the ribs, and left leg just above the knee, shattering the bone. Due to his mortal wounds, Shipp was unable to return fire and staggered to the corner of the house where he met Patrolman Dangler and uttered, “I’m shot, Charley.”.
The burglar then broke out a rear window of the home which Dangler responded by covering that window with his revolver. The burglar then made his way to the front of the house and climbed out a front window, shooting at bystanders as he made his getaway. In his haste, he tripped over a wire fence and dropped his .32 caliber revolver and a black silk handkerchief which he used to conceal his face. Dangler pursued the gunman but also tripped over the low fence, enabling the burglar to make his getaway.
Patrolman Shipp resided on Seelye Avenue and was survived by his second wife, two sons from a previous marriage, Arthur, age 20, and Frank, age 18, as well as stepchildren Bessie Covill and Clyde C. Covill.
Patrolman Shipp’s funeral was handled by J. & W. Koebler. His shield was placed in the badge case display of fallen officers.
John Shipp’s name is inscribed on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall, Washington, D.C. panel 41, West Wall, Line 16.
Written by Deputy Howard Pretel, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office
