Roll of Honor
Louis L. Shirley
Incident
Location: Indiana Weapon: Gun; Unknown type Offender: Convicted of manslaughter
Detective Louis Shirley was shot and killed while patrolling the New York Central rail yards in downtown Elkhart, Indiana.
He was shot in the back twice when he interrupted the burglary of railroad cars near the passenger terminal. Detective Shirley had voluntarily started his shift 30 minutes early but was shot at 5:23 pm, only 23 minutes later.
A suspect was arrested but convicted only of manslaughter and sentenced to a maximum of two to 21 years in prison. The suspect was later sentenced to life in prison after a conviction of being a habitual offender.
Detective Shirley was a United States WWI veteran and had served with the New York Central Railroad Police Department for three years.
He is buried at Rice Cemetery in Elkhart, Elkhart County, Indiana.
Detective Shirley was a United States WWI veteran and had served with the New York Central Railroad Police Department for three years.
Survivors
He was survived by his widowed mother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-1DEF0DC8- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Detective Shirley gave the New York Central Railroad Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Louis L. Shirley served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Detective Louis L. Shirley 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 NY, 754 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.1% of this state's fallen. That is 19.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At New York Central Railroad Police Department, 8 of 14 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Louis L. Shirley's cause is highlighted.
How Louis L. Shirley Compares
Offender Outcome
Convicted of manslaughter
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Louis L. Shirley is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Louis L. Shirley was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
13 officers from New York Central Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
