Francis M. O'Hara
Agency patch
Patrolman

Francis M. O'Hara

Accident
End of Watch November 25, 1946
Age 44
Tour of Duty 19 yrs
Badge 15639
The Vigil Panel 184 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Francis O'Hara and Patrolman Peter Knudsen were killed when while attempting to cut off the flow of gas to a building where a leak was reported. When Patrolman Knudsen and Francis entered the basement of the building an explosion occurred and the officers were instantly killed. Lieutenant Charles Michie expended every effort to rescue the patrolman and exerted himself to such an extent that he collapsed amid the debris and died.

In Our Keeping

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Added to badge.nw
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 O'Hara gave the New York City Police Department 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman O'Hara.

— 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 November 25, 1946
Tour of Duty 19 yrs
Age 44
Badge Number 15639
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Francis is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% 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 1946, 63 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 68th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Francis was 44. 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. Francis had served 19 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

November holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13.4%.

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, Francis among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Francis M. O'Hara

New York City Police Department · End of Watch November 25, 1946

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 25-E

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