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Walter Koella
Patrolman

Walter Koella

New Haven Police Department — New Haven, CT
Felonious
United States flag Connecticut flag
End of Watch March 16, 1935
Age 53
The Vigil Panel 69 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 22

Incident

Patrolman Walter Koella succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained almost two weeks earlier during a running shootout with a burglary suspect near the intersection of Sherman Avenue and Bassett Street.

The suspect was arrested, sentenced to death, and hanged on April 7th, 1936. The suspect's hanging was the last legal hanging in Connecticut before the state switched to electrocution.

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August 2, 2026
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August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Koella served with the New Haven Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the New Haven community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Koella.

— 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 March 16, 1935
Age 53
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Walter 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.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1935, 154 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 25th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Walter was 53. 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.

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

When

March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

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 Haven Police Department has 23 officers remembered here, Walter among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Walter Koella

New Haven Police Department · End of Watch March 16, 1935

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 60-W

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