Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Henry Jennings was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man at the Hotel Hartford at 240 Church Street at 9:15 am. Earlier in the day, the subject had shot and wounded a fellow officer earlier when that officer attempted to arrest him during a burglary. Patrolman Jennings was staking out the hotel, waiting for the suspect to appear, when he spotted him in the corridor. The subject struck Patrolman Jennings in the head. He was able to return fire, severely wounding the suspect. The suspect was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life at the Connecticut Penitentiary on January 29, 1965. He was later transferred to the Federal Penitentiary in Marion, Illinois, where he was strangled to death by two fellow inmates in 1981. On October 22, 1983, one of his killers stabbed to death Correctional Officer Merle E. Clutts. Patrolman Jennings had served with the Hartford Police Department for two years.
Survivors
He was survived by two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CT-AABA92BA- 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.
Patrolman Jennings gave the Hartford Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Hartford community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Jennings.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Henry W. Jennings 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 97,775 officers honored here.
In CT, 74 of 169 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 43.8% of this state's fallen. That is 43.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Hartford Police Department, 5 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Henry W. Jennings's cause is highlighted.
How Henry W. Jennings Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Henry W. Jennings is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Henry W. Jennings was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
7 officers from Hartford Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
