Patrolman

Joseph A. Nolan

Felonious
End of Watch June 26, 1918
Age 25
Tour of Duty 9 mo
Badge 1526
The Vigil Panel 78 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Joseph Nolan was killed when he was hit in the head with a brick thrown from the roof of a building. Patrolman Nolan was walking his beat when he heard gunshots in the vicinity of West 39th Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues in Manhattan. Patrolman Nolan stopped and questioned three men in front of 526 West 39th Street, and then released them. While standing in front of the same location and talking with two other patrolmen about the shots he had heard, several bricks were thrown from the roof of the building. One of the bricks struck Patrolman Nolan in the head, killing him. An investigation revealed that the brick was thrown from an apartment where a party was being held. Two men were arrested the following day. One of them, age 18, was charged with homicide while the tenant was charged with violating New York State's Sullivan Act after several weapons were found in his apartment. Patrolman Nolan was assigned to the 22nd Precinct. His wife and infant daughter survived him.

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

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

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

Agency

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

Service Record

End of Watch June 26, 1918
Tour of Duty 9 mo
Age 25
Badge Number 1526
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Blunt object

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Joseph 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.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1918, 165 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 19th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Joseph was 25. 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. Joseph had served 0.7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

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 blunt object, in 1.2% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Joseph A. Nolan

New York City Police Department · End of Watch June 26, 1918

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 29-E

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