Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Francis O'Hara and Patrolman Peter Knudsen were killed when while attempting to cut off the flow of gas to a building where a leak was reported. When Patrolman Knudsen and Francis entered the basement of the building an explosion occurred and the officers were instantly killed. Lieutenant Charles Michie expended every effort to rescue the patrolman and exerted himself to such an extent that he collapsed amid the debris and died.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-1FEA2686- 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 O'Hara gave the New York City Police Department 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman O'Hara.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Francis M. O'Hara is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NY, 645 of 2,147 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At New York City Police Department, 283 of 1237 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 22.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Francis M. O'Hara's cause is highlighted.
How Francis M. O'Hara Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Francis M. O'Hara is highlighted in Nov.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1,236 officers from New York City Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
