Dennis Shea

New York City Police Department — New York, NY

Accident

End of Watch November 4, 1902

Age 34

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 18 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1,236

Incident

Patrolman Dennis Shea was killed in a massive explosion at a fireworks display at Madison Square Park in which 12 people were killed and over 70 were injured.

Patrolman Shea was patrolling the crowd at a fireworks display in Madison Square when one of the fireworks misfired. The misfire ignited a large pile of fireworks and caused the explosion. A large piece of metal struck Patrolman Shea in the head, fracturing his skull. He died from his injuries.

Patrolman Shea had served with the New York City Police Department for four years and was survived by his wife. He was assigned to the Brooklyn Bridge Squad.

Survivors

Patrolman Shea had served with the New York City Police Department for four years and was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-B5CEA341
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 Shea gave the New York City Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Shea.

— 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 November 4, 1902

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 34

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Patrolman Dennis Shea 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.

New York City Police Department

283

of 1,237 officers

22.9% Accident

NY — Statewide

645

of 2,147 officers

30% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers

31% Accident