Henry W. Jennings

Hartford Police Department — Hartford, CT

Felonious

End of Watch May 25, 1964

Age 28

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 99 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 7

Incident

Patrolman Henry Jennings was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man at the Hotel Hartford at 240 Church Street at 9:15 am. Earlier in the day, the subject had shot and wounded a fellow officer earlier when that officer attempted to arrest him during a burglary. Patrolman Jennings was staking out the hotel, waiting for the suspect to appear, when he spotted him in the corridor. The subject struck Patrolman Jennings in the head. He was able to return fire, severely wounding the suspect. The suspect was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life at the Connecticut Penitentiary on January 29, 1965. He was later transferred to the Federal Penitentiary in Marion, Illinois, where he was strangled to death by two fellow inmates in 1981. On October 22, 1983, one of his killers stabbed to death Correctional Officer Merle E. Clutts. Patrolman Jennings had served with the Hartford Police Department for two years.

Survivors

He was survived by two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CT-AABA92BA
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 Jennings gave the Hartford Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Hartford community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Jennings.

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

Agency

Department Hartford Police Department

Location Hartford, CT

Platform Identity hpd.capitol.ct.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 25, 1964

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 28

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Murdered in prison

Patrolman Henry W. Jennings 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 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 10.4 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Hartford Police Department, 5 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.5% of this agency's fallen.

Hartford Police Department

of 8 officers

62.5% Felonious

CT — Statewide

of 169 officers

43.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious