David C. Hennessy
Agency patch
Chief of Police

David C. Hennessy

New Orleans Police Department — New Orleans, LA
Felonious
End of Watch October 16, 1890
Age 32
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
The Vigil Panel 10 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Chief of Police David Hennessy was assassinated by members of the New Orleans mob near the intersection of Girod Street (present-day Loyola Avenue) and Basin Street. He was walking home from the police department when he was ambushed and killed. It is believed he was killed to prevent testimony in a trial later in the week. A total of nine men were charged with his murder. Six of the men were acquitted and three others were cleared in mistrials. All nine suspects and two other men were lynched by angry citizens after the trials. Chief Hennessy had served with the New Orleans Police Department for 20 years. He had originally been hired as a messenger boy and worked his way up to chief of police. He was survived by his mother. He is buried in Metairie Cemetery, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Survivors

He was survived by his mother.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

136 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Chief of Police Hennessy gave the New Orleans Police Department 20 years.
Thank you for your service to the New Orleans community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location New Orleans, Orleans Parish, LA
Platform Identity nopd.orleans.la.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 16, 1890
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
Age 32
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Shotgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

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

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1890, 65 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 113th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

David was 32. 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. David had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

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 shotgun, in 7% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

New Orleans Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, David among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Chief of Police David C. Hennessy

New Orleans Police Department · End of Watch October 16, 1890

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 39-W

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