Francis X. Tierney

Wilmington Police Department — Wilmington, DE

Felonious

End of Watch March 6, 1915

Age 31

Tour of Duty 3 mo

The Vigil Panel 29 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 10

Incident

Patrolman Francis Tierney was shot and killed as he and three other officers attempted to arrest two suspicious men who were attempting to pawn two watches at a business near 6th Street and Market Street. When the officers arrived the men fled and exchanged shots with the officers. The officers chased the men into a nearby stable where Patrolman Tierney was shot and killed and the other three officers were wounded. The two suspects were then taken into custody. The suspect who killed him was executed on May 14, 1915. Patrolman Tierney had served with the Wilmington Police Department for only three months.

Survivors

He was survived by his fiancee.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-DE-C6BF465A
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 Tierney served with the Wilmington Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Wilmington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Tierney.

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

Agency

Department Wilmington Police Department

Location Wilmington, DE

Platform Identity wpd.newcastle.de.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 6, 1915

Tour of Duty 3 mo

Age 31

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Executed in 1915

Patrolman Francis X. Tierney 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 DE, 25 of 51 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 49% of this state's fallen. That is 5.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Wilmington Police Department, 7 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.6% of this agency's fallen.

Wilmington Police Department

of 11 officers

63.6% Felonious

DE — Statewide

of 51 officers

49% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious