Paul A. Persigo

New Orleans Police Department — New Orleans, LA

Felonious

End of Watch January 7, 1973

Age 33

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

The Vigil Panel 111 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 127

Incident

Patrolman Paul Persigo, Patrolman Philip Coleman, and Deputy Superintendent Louis Sirgo were shot and killed by a sniper who had shot several civilians and set fires at a local hotel. Patrolman Persigo was shot as he attempted to clear civilians from the front of the hotel. The suspect, who was a member of the Black Panthers, was shot and killed by police, who used a Marine Helicopter to fly over the hotel and fire at the suspect. The suspect was also responsible for the murders of Cadet Alfred Harrell and Sergeant Edwin Hosli, who were shot in separate incidents eight days earlier. Officer Harrell was killed instantly, and Sergeant Hosli succumbed to his wounds on March 5, 1973. Patrolman Persigo had served with the New Orleans Police Department for six years. He was survived by his wife and three children. The Black Panther Party was a black nationalist and Marxist revolutionary political and militant organization active in the United States between 1966 and 1982. Members and former members of the group were responsible for the murders of over 20 law enforcement officers and the wounding of dozens more across the nation. Please click here to visit all the law enforcement officers who have died as a result of the Black Panther Party's violent activism.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-LA-EA133E6B
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 Persigo gave the New Orleans Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the New Orleans community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Persigo.

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

Agency

Department New Orleans Police Department

Location New Orleans, LA

Platform Identity nopd.orleans.la.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 7, 1973

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Age 33

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle; .44 caliber

Offender Shot and killed

Patrolman Paul A. Persigo 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 New Orleans Police Department, 86 of 128 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 67.2% of this agency's fallen.

New Orleans Police Department

of 128 officers

67.2% Felonious

LA — Statewide

364

of 595 officers

61.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious