William O'Shaughnessy

New York City Police Department — New York, NY

Felonious

End of Watch June 9, 1931

Age 56

Tour of Duty 35 yrs

Badge 784

The Vigil Panel 62 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1,236

Incident

Sergeant William O'Shaughnessy was shot and killed when he was alerted to the robbery of a speakeasy at 329 Lenox Avenue in Harlem. The subjects had customers lined up against the wall and were taking their valuables. When Sergeant O'Shaughnessy entered the cafe, the subjects fired and killed him before he could return fire. The two men then stole a taxi cab and fled until they crashed a short time later. Four nearby policemen heard the crash and went to investigate, not knowing of the earlier shooting. The two men opened fire on the four officers, who immediately returned fire. The two men were taken into custody. Both were convicted of Sergeant O'Shaughnessy's murder and executed in the electric chair on December 10, 1932. Sergeant O'Shaughnessy had served with the New York City Police Department for 35 years, assigned to the 28th Precinct.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-789A4720
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

35 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant O'Shaughnessy gave the New York City Police Department 35 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant O'Shaughnessy.

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

Agency

Department New York City Police Department

Location New York, NY

Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 9, 1931

Tour of Duty 35 yrs

Age 56

Badge Number 784

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Executed in 1932

Sergeant William O'Shaughnessy 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 City Police Department, 382 of 1237 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 30.9% of this agency's fallen.

New York City Police Department

382

of 1,237 officers

30.9% Felonious

NY — Statewide

754

of 2,147 officers

35.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious