Frank J. Murphy Jr.
Agency patch
Detective

Frank J. Murphy Jr.

Omaha Police Department — Omaha, NE
Felonious
End of Watch July 23, 1919
Age 25
The Vigil Panel 37 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Frank Murphy succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained one week earlier while attempting to question a man at 20th Street and Dodge Street. Detective Murphy and other detectives observed a man matching the description of a robbery suspect. The detectives called out to the man and as Detective Murphy stepped from his vehicle he was shot. One of the other detectives returned fire fatally wounding the suspect. Detective Murphy's wound became gangrenes and he died as a result. Before Detective Murphy and the suspect died they met each other at the hospital where they discovered that they had been best friends during their childhood.

Survivors

Detective Murphy was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NE-6C0E57BC
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Murphy served with the Omaha Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Omaha community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Murphy.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Omaha, Douglas County, NE
Platform Identity opd.douglas.ne.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 23, 1919
Age 25
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Detective Frank J. Murphy Jr. 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 NE, 97 of 151 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.2% of this state's fallen. That is 64.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Omaha Police Department, 21 of 25 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 84% of this agency's fallen.

Omaha Police Department
21
of 25 officers
84% Felonious
NE — Statewide
97
of 151 officers
64.2% 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. Frank J. Murphy Jr.'s cause is highlighted.

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

How Frank J. Murphy Jr. Compares

Age at Death
25
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Frank J. Murphy Jr. is highlighted in Jul.

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. Frank J. Murphy Jr. 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