The Cleveland Police Museum is honored to tell the stories of our Fallen Officers on the anniversary of their End of Watch.
Appointed on December 2, 1892, 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.
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.”.
Patrolman Shipp resided on Seelye Avenue and was survived by his second wife Florence, two sons from a previous marriage, Arthur, age 20, and Frank, age 18, as well as stepchildren Bessie Covill and Clyde C. Covill.
