Newark Police Division, New Jersey
End of Watch: Sunday, October 13, 1912
Age: 33
Tour of Duty: 2 years, 6 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: October 13, 1912
Weapon Used: Handgun; .32 caliber
Suspect Info: Paroled in 1922
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.