William O'Shaughnessy
Agency patch
Sergeant

William O'Shaughnessy

Felonious
End of Watch June 9, 1931
Age 56
Tour of Duty 35 yrs
Badge 784
The Vigil Panel 138 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant William O'Shaughnessy was shot and killed when he was alerted to the robbery of a speakeasy at 329 Lenox Avenue in Harlem. The subjects had customers lined up against the wall and were taking their valuables. When Sergeant O'Shaughnessy entered the cafe, the subjects fired and killed him before he could return fire. The two men then stole a taxi cab and fled until they crashed a short time later. Four nearby policemen heard the crash and went to investigate, not knowing of the earlier shooting. The two men opened fire on the four officers, who immediately returned fire. The two men were taken into custody. Both were convicted of Sergeant O'Shaughnessy's murder and executed in the electric chair on December 10, 1932. Sergeant O'Shaughnessy had served with the New York City Police Department for 35 years, assigned to the 28th Precinct.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtmh62vqtac3r8d2jv5ke
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew William. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

35 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant O'Shaughnessy gave the New York City Police Department 35 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant O'Shaughnessy.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location New York, NY
Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 9, 1931
Tour of Duty 35 yrs
Age 56
Badge Number 784
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

William is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1931, 221 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 56. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. William had served 35 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

New York City Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, William among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Sergeant William O'Shaughnessy

New York City Police Department · End of Watch June 9, 1931

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 33-E

↑