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Patrolman

Thomas J. Norton

New York Municipal Police — New York City, NY

Felonious

End of Watch December 19, 1881

Age 28

Tour of Duty 2 yrs 1 mo

The Vigil Panel 7 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 20

Incident

Thomas J. Norton joined the New York City police on 18 November 1879. He served first as a patrolman in the Sixth Precinct on Franklin Street and was then made a detective with the Eldridge Street Squad of the 10th Precinct on the Lower East Side, where he was regarded as an esteemed and valuable officer.

Late on the night of 18 December 1881 he was called to a disturbance behind a saloon at 44 Delancey Street. There he found a man named Bernard Fitzpatrick, who had been passing himself off as a police officer. When Detective Norton asked to see his shield, Fitzpatrick turned insolent, and Norton ordered him and his companion out of the building. Others joined them in the alley outside, a fight broke out and spilled into the street, and Fitzpatrick drew a revolver and shot him. Wounded, Norton still seized Fitzpatrick and struggled with him until he broke free and ran. Two passers-by tried to stop the bleeding and carried him to the station house, and he was taken to Chambers Street Hospital, where he died the next day, 19 December 1881. He was 28.

He was to have been married the following week to the daughter of a farmer in Sullivan County, and he was buried on her family's land. He was survived by his mother, his sister and his brother.

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Last updated: September 9, 2026

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Tributes

145 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Norton gave the New York Municipal Police Department 2 years.
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 Municipal Police

Type Police Department

Location New York City, NY

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

Service Record

End of Watch December 19, 1881

Tour of Duty 2 yrs 1 mo

Age 28

Gender Male

Assignment Eldridge Street Squad, 10 Precinct

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Thomas is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

See the roll

Compare against

Time

In 1881, 61 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 132nd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.

Every year on record · Worldwide

Who

Thomas was 28. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Thomas had served 2.1 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

December holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Mondays: 13.8%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded