Francis C. Zinna

Louisiana State Police — Baton Rouge, LA

Felonious

End of Watch March 24, 1958

Age 33

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

The Vigil Panel 93 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 26

Incident

Trooper Zinna was killed when he was struck by a vehicle, that was being pursued, while manning a roadblock on US 190 in West Baton Rouge Parish. The vehicle approached the roadblock at an estimated 110 mph when the driver applied the brakes, causing the vehicle to skid into Trooper Zinna. The 31-year-old driver skidded 117 feet when he hit Trooper Zinna, and another 297 feet after impact. He told investigating officials he did not know why he did it. He was charged with negligent homicide and numerous traffic violations. The driver was convicted of negligent homicide and sentenced to three years. After serving one year he was paroled. Trooper Zinna was assigned to Troop C and had been with the agency for almost three years. He was survived by his wife and four children. He has a granddaughter who is an officer with New Orleans Probation and Parole.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-LA-13C0F1FB
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.
Trooper Zinna gave the Louisiana State Police 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Louisiana. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Zinna.

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

Agency

Department Louisiana State Police

Location Baton Rouge, LA

Platform Identity lsp.la.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 24, 1958

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 33

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile

Offender Sentenced to 3 years

Trooper Francis C. Zinna 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 LA, 364 of 595 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.2% of this state's fallen. That is 7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Louisiana State Police, 6 of 27 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 22.2% of this agency's fallen.

Louisiana State Police

of 27 officers

22.2% Felonious

LA — Statewide

364

of 595 officers

61.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious