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Francis X. O'Rourke
Agency patch
Detective

Francis X. O'Rourke

New York City Police Department — New York, NY
Cardiac
United States flag New York flag
End of Watch January 21, 1958
Age 37
Badge 422
The Vigil Panel 205 · Column 4 · Line 16 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 1,221

Incident

Francis X. O'Rourke joined the New York City Police Department on 16 September 1946 and served first in the 15th Precinct in Manhattan. On 7 August 1955 he was promoted to detective and assigned to the 32nd Squad in Harlem, carrying shield 422.

At about half past six on the morning of 20 January 1958, he and his partner went to an apartment at 134 West 143rd Street to arrest a suspect. They were refused entry, heard a window opening, and Detective O'Rourke tried to force the door, but the man escaped through the window. The partners arrested others in the apartment. Later he called a doctor about pains in his chest, thinking he had hurt himself forcing the door. The next afternoon, 21 January 1958, he suffered a heart attack at his home in Pearl River and was pronounced dead at Pearl River Hospital. He was 37 and was survived by his wife.

In 2000 his name was added to the memorial wall at the 32nd Precinct.

In Our Keeping

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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
October 17, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective O'Rourke 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, Detective O'Rourke.

— 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 January 21, 1958
Age 37
Badge Number 422
Gender Male
Assignment 32 Squad

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

The Sacrifice · Cardiac

Francis is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1958, 10 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, the 61st heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Francis was 37. Of the 1,249 lost to cardiac events in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 55; the middle age was 48.

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

When

January holds 9.6% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 13.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Cardiac deaths account for 4.7% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 4th 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

Detective Francis X. O'Rourke

New York City Police Department · End of Watch January 21, 1958

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 18-E

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