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Henry J. Farrell
Agency patch
Patrolman

Henry J. Farrell

New York City Police Department — New York, NY
Accident
United States flag New York flag
End of Watch March 4, 1927
Age 26
Tour of Duty 3 yrs 7 mo
Badge 11360
The Vigil Panel 52 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 1,221

Incident

Patrolman Henry Farrell was killed when he entered a burning building at 55 Spring Street in Manhattan to rescue trapped civilians. Patrolman Farrell was walking to his post just after starting his tour of duty at the Elizabeth Street Station when he noticed black smoke coming from 55 Spring Street. He ran to the building and entered, yelling at all the tenants to evacuate. When he got to the second floor, he observed an old lady and her young granddaughter struggling to evacuate. He carried the two out of the building to safety and then reentered the building to help evacuate the remaining residents. He rescued another woman and brought her to safety before climbing the fire escape of the building to carry an elderly man to safety. Noting that not everyone was out of the building, Patrolman Farrell entered the building next door and jumped from the roof of that building to the roof of 55 Spring Street. He then pried open the roof door and entered the building, where he found an unconscious man on the top floor. Patrolman Farrell attempted to rescue that man but was overcome by the smoke and flames. Patrolman Farrell had served with the New York City Police Department for over three years and was assigned to the 3rd Precinct, the present-day 5th Precinct. His wife and 3-year-old son survived him. He was posthumously awarded the New York City Police Department's Medal of Honor for his heroic actions.

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August 2, 2026
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August 2, 2026

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Farrell gave the New York City Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Farrell.

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

Agency

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

Service Record

End of Watch March 4, 1927
Tour of Duty 3 yrs 7 mo
Age 26
Badge Number 11360
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Henry is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

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

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1927, 114 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 2nd heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Henry was 26. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Henry had served 3.6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

March holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Fridays: 15.1%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Henry J. Farrell

New York City Police Department · End of Watch March 4, 1927

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 15-W

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