Roselius Folse
Agency patch
Patrolman

Roselius Folse

New Orleans Police Department — New Orleans, LA
Felonious
End of Watch July 20, 1920
Age 51
The Vigil Panel 39 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Roselius Folse was shot and killed in front of the police station on St. Phillip Street by an automobile thief he was attempting to arrest that afternoon. The 30-year-old suspect was arrested. Later that day he escaped from the 4th Precinct Police Station after he overpowered the jailor and took his revolver. As he ran from the jail he was shot and killed by several officers.

Survivors

Patrolman Folse was survived by his wife and two sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-LA-D2697094
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.
Patrolman Folse served with the New Orleans Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the New Orleans community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Folse.

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

Agency

Location New Orleans, LA
Platform Identity nopd.orleans.la.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 20, 1920
Age 51
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun; Pistol
Offender Shot and killed

Patrolman Roselius Folse 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 LA, 364 of 595 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.2% of this state's fallen. That is 7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At New Orleans Police Department, 86 of 128 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 67.2% of this agency's fallen.

New Orleans Police Department
86
of 128 officers
67.2% Felonious
LA — Statewide
364
of 595 officers
61.2% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

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

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Roselius Folse Compares

Age at End of Watch
51
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Roselius Folse is highlighted in Jul.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Roselius Folse was killed by handgun; pistol.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location