Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Walter Koella succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained almost two weeks earlier during a running shootout with a burglary suspect near the intersection of Sherman Avenue and Bassett Street.
The suspect was arrested, sentenced to death, and hanged on April 7th, 1936. The suspect's hanging was the last legal hanging in Connecticut before the state switched to electrocution.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CT-4FA7042E- 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.
Patrolman Koella served with the New Haven Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the New Haven community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Koella.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Walter Koella is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 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 43.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At New Haven Police Department, 10 of 23 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 43.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Walter Koella's cause is highlighted.
How Walter Koella Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Walter Koella is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Walter Koella was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
22 officers from New Haven Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
