Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Thomas Ennis was shot and killed when he interrupted a robbery of a diner in the 500 block of Main Street while walking his beat shortly after 6:00 am.
Two suspects were in the process of robbing the diner and had taken the three workers into a back room and were attempting to flee when Officer Ennis encountered them in the doorway. During the ensuing struggle Officer Ennis was shot once in the abdomen. Despite being mortally wounded, he was able to return fire and wounded both suspects as they fled.
Both men were arrested the following day. They were both convicted of murder, sentenced to death, and subsequently executed together on April 1st, 1938.
Officer Ennis had served with the East Orange Police Department for 10 years.
God rest his soul.
Sgt. Robert A. Henne Jersey City PD/Ret. May 12th, 2024
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-1AA5D20F- 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.
Police Officer Ennis gave the East Orange Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the East Orange community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Ennis.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Thomas J. Ennis 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 NJ, 264 of 646 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40.9% of this state's fallen. That is 13.3 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At East Orange Police Department, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas J. Ennis's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas J. Ennis Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1938
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas J. Ennis is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas J. Ennis was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from East Orange Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
