Cleveland Division of Police, Ohio
End of Watch: Thursday, September 2, 1976
Age: 27
Tour of Duty: 3 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: August 14, 1976
Weapon Used: Handgun; .38 caliber
Suspect Info: Committed suicide
Patrolman John Reese succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained three weeks earlier after he and his partner responded to a call involving a man with a gun at 10127 South Blvd.
When they arrived at the scene at 12:21 AM, they were told by the suspect's mother that the man wanted to kill himself but had left the home.
The officers patrolled the area around the home for a short time and then returned to the home. As they approached the home, they noticed several people standing on the porch. As they continued to approach the porch, the suspect suddenly yelled out that he was not going back to jail and immediately shot himself in the stomach. The suspect's father then attempted to subdue him but knocked him off the porch. The suspect then began firing at the officers, striking Patrolman Reese. Although wounded, Patrolman Reese was able to return fire and strike the suspect.
The suspect died a short time later as a result of the shot he inflicted upon himself.
Patrolman Reese was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital where he died three weeks later.
Patrolman Reese was a United States Army Vietnam War veteran and had served with the Cleveland Division of Police for three years.