Thomas Cummins

New Haven Police Department — New Haven, CT

Felonious

End of Watch November 24, 1855

The Vigil Panel 7 · Column 1 · Line 5 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 22

Incident

Night Watchman Cummins was shot and killed when he responded to a family quarrel. While he and another watchman were at the scene a drunk family member attacked them. While struggling with the man a large group of other intoxicated men also attached them. Night Watchman Cummins and the other watchman both suffered head wounds were seriously cut. Both officers were able to get away and go back to the police station. After filing their report Night Watchman Cummins went to a local church, where he served as sexton, to start the fires for Sunday morning. When parishioners arrived in the morning they found his body inside. A man and a woman were charged with Watchman Cummins' murder. On April 23, 1856, both were convicted of manslaughter and sentenced two two years.

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Last updated: August 2, 2026

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Tributes

171 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Night Watchman Cummins served with the New Haven Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the New Haven community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department New Haven Police Department

Type Other

Location New Haven, South Central Connecticut Planning Region, CT

Platform Identity newhpd.southcentral.ct.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 24, 1855

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Blunt object

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Thomas is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1855, 14 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 166th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

When

November holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

By month

By day of the week

III

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was blunt object, in 1.2% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded