Roll of Honor
Incident
Lieutenant Sidney Zaffuto was shot and killed during a bank robbery while working an overtime assignment at a bank at 4626 General de Gaulle Drive.
Three suspects entered the bank and immediately disarmed Lieutenant Zaffuto while holding him at gunpoint. A second deputy, who was in the rear of the bank, observed what was occurring and confronted the suspects. A shootout ensued, and Lieutenant Zaffuto was shot in the chest while the second deputy was struck in the leg.
Two of the suspects were also wounded, and all three fled the scene. A plainclothes detective who observed the suspects fleeing called for backup before taking the suspects into custody with other responding officers. Two United States Coast Guard petty officers, who were transporting ammunition through the area, took the third suspect into custody.
The subject who shot Lieutenant Zaffuto was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death on May 27th, 2009. In April 2009, the second subject died in jail.
Lieutenant Zaffuto had served with the Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff's Office for a total of 21 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, son, two stepchildren, and two grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-LA-2B34286F- 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
21 years. You could have gone home.
Lieutenant Zaffuto gave the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office 21 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the New Orleans community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Zaffuto.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Lieutenant Sidney A. Zaffuto 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 Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office, 1 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 14.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Sidney A. Zaffuto's cause is highlighted.
How Sidney A. Zaffuto Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to death
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Sidney A. Zaffuto is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Sidney A. Zaffuto was killed by handgun; .45 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
