Francis J. "Frank" Shannon

Newark Police Division — Newark, NJ

Felonious

End of Watch March 29, 1963

Age 33

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Badge 510

The Vigil Panel 98 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 57

Incident

Police Officer Frank Shannon was shot and killed by a man who was fleeing the scene of a hit-and-run accident. Officer Shannon was off duty when he heard the collision and went to investigate. When he asked the occupants of the car if they were okay they ran from the scene. Officer Shannon gave chase and caught the male subject but was knocked down by the man. The suspect then grabbed Officer Shannon's service weapon and shot him four times as he lay on the ground. The suspect fled the scene but was arrested a short time later and charged with murder. The vehicle involved in the hit-and-rund turned out to be stolen. Officer Shannon was shot at the corner of Bloomfield Avenue and North 4th Street, across the street from his home. The man, 23 who shot him was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. When he was 8-years-old he was sent to a reformatory school for larceny. He was paroled in 1979. Officer Shannon had served with agency for four years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NJ-750463A6
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Shannon gave the Newark Police Division 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Newark community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Shannon.

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

Agency

Department Newark Police Division

Location Newark, NJ

Platform Identity npdpd.essex.nj.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 29, 1963

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 33

Badge Number 510

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Paroled in 1979

Police Officer Francis J. "Frank" Shannon is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In NJ, 264 of 646 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40.9% of this state's fallen. That is 13.3 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Newark Police Division, 28 of 58 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 48.3% of this agency's fallen.

Newark Police Division

of 58 officers

48.3% Felonious

NJ — Statewide

264

of 646 officers

40.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious