Francis V. Keyes

Albany Police Department — Albany, NY

Felonious

End of Watch April 24, 1936

Age 43

Tour of Duty 11 yrs

The Vigil Panel 71 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 11

Incident

Officer Francis Keyes was wounded when he stopped two young men on a motorcycle who went through a red light. The 17-year-old driver gave a fictitious name and could produce neither his driver's license nor registration for the motorcycle. Another officer stayed with the motorcycle and sent Officer Keyes, with the two men, to the 5th Precinct located on Central Avenue near North Lake Avenue. At Central Avenue and Quail, one suspect stuck a .32-cal pistol in Officer Keyes' ribs and ordered the officer to drive past the patrol car and told his accomplice to take the officer's gun. The second suspect, however, fled. Officer Keyes then exited the car and struggled with the first suspect. The suspect shot Officer Keyes in the right chest and fled. Officer Keyes returned fire, emptying his revolver at the fleeing suspect, but missed. Officer Keyes then collapsed on the hood of a passing motorist who witnessed the incident. The witness drove Officer Keyes to the hospital where the officer died 8 days later from pneumonia, a resulting complication of the shooting. One was subsequently arrested as he stepped off a train in Plattsburgh, New York and charged with murder. The co-defendant, a 13 year old, was later arrested and charged with Juvenile Delinquency. The 17-year-old suspect was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 20 years to life.

Survivors

Officer Keyes had been with the agency for 11 years and was survived by his daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-CD24A7B4
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.
Police Officer Keyes gave the Albany Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Albany community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Keyes.

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

Agency

Department Albany Police Department

Location Albany, NY

Platform Identity apd.albany.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 24, 1936

Tour of Duty 11 yrs

Age 43

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .32 caliber

Offender Sentenced to 20 years to life

Police Officer Francis V. Keyes 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 Albany Police Department, 6 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Albany Police Department

of 12 officers

50% Felonious

NY — Statewide

754

of 2,147 officers

35.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious