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Police Officer

James Skelly

New Britain Police Department — New Britain, CT

Felonious

End of Watch October 12, 1924

Age 55

Tour of Duty 18 yrs

The Vigil Panel 48 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 2

Incident

Officer James Skelly was shot and killed after responding to a report of a burglary in progress at a local department store. When the officers arrived, they confronted the suspect and identified themselves. The man immediately opened fire, striking Officer Skelly in the chest three times. The man was convicted of Officer Skelly's murder and hanged in 1926. Officer Skelly had been employed with the New Britain Police Department for 17 years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CT-C34B80C6
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Skelly gave the New Britain Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the New Britain community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Skelly.

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

Agency

Department New Britain Police Department

Type Police Department

Location New Britain, CT

Platform Identity nbpd.capitol.ct.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 12, 1924

Tour of Duty 18 yrs

Age 55

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Police Officer James Skelly is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,587 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 10.1 percentage points below the national rate of 53.9%.

At New Britain Police Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

New Britain Police Department

of 3 officers

66.7% Felonious

CT — Statewide

of 169 officers

43.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,559

of 32,587 officers

53.9% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Skelly's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,559 (53.9%)

Accident

10,095 (31%)

Illness

3,037 (9.3%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

334 (1%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

How James Skelly Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Skelly is highlighted in Oct.

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. James Skelly was killed by gun.

Handgun

3,684

Gun

3,592

Gun; Unknown type

1,492

Shotgun

1,109

Rifle

935

Officer's handgun

909

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from New Britain Police Department are honored on badge.nw.