John T. Delehanty

New York City Police Department — New York, NY

Felonious

End of Watch September 25, 1895

Age 25

The Vigil Panel 13 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1,236

Incident

Patrolman Delehanty was assaulted as he returned to the station house after working a plain cloths assignment. When Patrolman Delehanty and his partner reached the corner of East 34th Street and 2nd Avenue, in Manhattan, they came across a group of intoxicated males acting disorderly. Patrolman Delehanty ordered the loudest of the group to quiet down. The suspect refused and Patrolman Delehanty attempted to seize the suspect, who was an acrobat, but failed.

The suspect struck Patrolman Delehanty with both fists while at the same time tripping him to the ground. The suspect then struck Patrolman Delehanty with a sandbag, fracturing his skull. The suspect fled, but was apprehended by another Patrolman. Patrolman Delehanty died three days later from his injury.

This incident caused the Police Commissioner to restore long night sticks to the force.

Patrolman Delehanty was assigned t the 21st Precinct, the present day 13th Precinct.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-AAE19DC5
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

131 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Delehanty served with the New York Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department New York City Police Department

Location New York, NY

Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 25, 1895

Age 25

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Assault

Weapon Blunt object; Sandbag

Offender Apprehended

Patrolman John T. Delehanty 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 New York City Police Department, 382 of 1237 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 30.9% of this agency's fallen.

New York City Police Department

382

of 1,237 officers

30.9% Felonious

NY — Statewide

754

of 2,147 officers

35.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious