Jack Fennell
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Jack Fennell

Ontario County Sheriff's Office — Canandaigua, NY
Felonious
End of Watch August 31, 1951
Age 41
The Vigil Panel 87 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Fennell succumbed to gunshot wounds received almost three months earlier while trying to stop four suspects who had just robbed a filling station attendant of $250 on Route 20 near Canandaigua. All four suspects were captured a short time later at a roadblock in Geneva after an exchange of gunfire with police. One of the suspects admitted that he killed Deputy Fennell. He was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life on November 16, 1951. He died in prison on March 10, 1982.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-99884B13
Stewardship
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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.
Deputy Sheriff Fennell served with the Ontario County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Canandaigua community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Fennell.

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

Agency

Location Canandaigua, NY
Platform Identity ocso.ontario.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 31, 1951
Age 41
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Died in prison

Deputy Sheriff Jack Fennell 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 NY, 754 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.1% of this state's fallen. That is 19.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Ontario County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.

Ontario County Sheriff's Office
1
of 4 officers
25% Felonious
NY — Statewide
754
of 2,147 officers
35.1% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jack Fennell's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Jack Fennell Compares

Age at End of Watch
41
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Died in prison

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jack Fennell is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jack Fennell was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518