Francis C. Zinna
Agency patch
Trooper

Francis C. Zinna

Louisiana State Police — Baton Rouge, LA
Felonious
End of Watch March 24, 1958
Age 33
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
The Vigil Panel 206 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Trooper Zinna was killed when he was struck by a vehicle, that was being pursued, while manning a roadblock on US 190 in West Baton Rouge Parish. The vehicle approached the roadblock at an estimated 110 mph when the driver applied the brakes, causing the vehicle to skid into Trooper Zinna. The 31-year-old driver skidded 117 feet when he hit Trooper Zinna, and another 297 feet after impact. He told investigating officials he did not know why he did it. He was charged with negligent homicide and numerous traffic violations. The driver was convicted of negligent homicide and sentenced to three years. After serving one year he was paroled. Trooper Zinna was assigned to Troop C and had been with the agency for almost three years. He was survived by his wife and four children. He has a granddaughter who is an officer with New Orleans Probation and Parole.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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.
Trooper Zinna gave the Louisiana State Police 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Louisiana. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Zinna.

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

Agency

Type State Police
Location Baton Rouge, LA
Platform Identity lsp.la.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 24, 1958
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 33
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Automobile

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Francis 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 1958, 63 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 119th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Francis was 33. 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. Francis had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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%. Mondays: 13.8%.

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 automobile, in 4.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Louisiana State Police has 27 officers remembered here, Francis among them.

Trooper Francis C. Zinna

Louisiana State Police · End of Watch March 24, 1958

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 37-W

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