Asa W. Furness
Agency patch
Patrolman

Asa W. Furness

Felonious
End of Watch December 29, 1878
Age 34
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
The Vigil Panel 6 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Asa Furness was shot and killed by an emotionally disturbed person. Patrolman Furness and other officers responded to a report of a man acting irrationally at the Metropolitan Hotel. When the officers arrived, they knocked on the door to the room the man was in. The man told them he would shoot the first man that came through the door. After a short time, the man opened the door and walked into the hallway. Patrolman Furness rushed the suspect and was shot twice. The suspect escaped but was later arrested by officers. Patrolman Furness had served with the New York Municipal Police Department for four years and was assigned to the 14th Precinct (modern-day 5th Precinct).

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-5880C014
Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

148 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Furness gave the New York Municipal Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location New York, NY
Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 29, 1878
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Age 34
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Patrolman Asa W. Furness is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In NY, 728 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.9% of this state's fallen. That is 33.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At New York City Police Department, 365 of 1237 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 29.5% of this agency's fallen.

New York City Police Department
365
of 1,237 officers
29.5% Felonious
NY — Statewide
728
of 2,147 officers
33.9% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Asa W. Furness's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Asa W. Furness Compares

Age at Death
34
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
4
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Asa W. Furness is highlighted in Dec.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Asa W. Furness was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location