On May 8, 2015, the Wilmington Police Department unveiled a memorial wall honoring the ten members of the Wilmington Police Force who have been killed in the line of duty. A member of the current police academy, the 96th class, read the roll call of WPD’s fallen officers, as the individual plaques were uncovered.
The young recruit, who will soon be patrolling city streets, solemnly read each name. About halfway through the roll call, he announced in a deep voice, Police Officer Francis X. Tierney, End of Watch, Saturday, March 6, 1915. Died from gunfire.
Patrolman Tierney, 31, was shot and killed as he and three other lawmen attempted to arrest two suspicious men who were attempting to pawn two watches. When the officers arrived the men fled and exchanged shots with the authorities. The patrolmen chased the suspects into a nearby stable where Patrolman Francis Tierney was shot and killed and the other officers were wounded. The two suspects were taken into custody and the man who killed the patrolman was executed on May 14, 1915. Patrolman Tierney had served with the agency for only three months.
The recruit added that a relative of the patrolman, Mr. Francis J. Tierney, 94, was present for the ceremony. After the memorial was over I made my way to the front of the room and talked to Mr. Tierney. He had been named for the young city policeman, Francis Tierney, and we talked about that.
I also inquired so to whether he knew Dr. Helen Tierney and he said, yes that was his sister. There were 11 children in his family. So I mentioned how much I had enjoyed working with the retired professor and scholar of women’s studies as she returned back home to Newark, DE and eventually started living in the family cottage along the Elk River. He said, you know I built that house on the River.
At least I had a chance to let him know that in local history circles Dr. Tierney’s work hasn’t been forgotten.
Hello! I’m writing to ask permission to use the photograph of Francis X. Tierney, the nephew of the original FXT that you published here: https://cecilcountyhistory.com/94-year-old-relative-of-officer-killed-in-line-of-duty-in-1915-attends-wilmington-police-ceremony/ in a book I am writing. I’m writing a book about the history of Wilmington, Delaware as seen through the lives of people buried in the New Castle County Hospital/Farnhurst Potter’s Field Cemetery. One of those people is Peter Krakus, the man who killed Patrolman Francis X. Tierney in 1915. I’m including information about Krakus’ victims, with lots of info about the frist Francis Tierney, and would love to include the story about his namesake nephew attending the 100th anniversary celebration of his death. My name is Kathy Dettwyler, my email is xro2581@gmail.com and my phone number is (302) 388-7836. I will not publish the photo without your permission. Thank you so much for your time.
Certainly, Kathy. Please feel free to use it.
There are a few inaccuracies in this paragraph: “Patrolman Tierney, 31, was shot and killed as he and three other lawmen attempted to arrest two suspicious men who were attempting to pawn two watches. When the officers arrived the men fled and exchanged shots with the authorities. The patrolmen chased the suspects into a nearby stable where Patrolman Francis Tierney was shot and killed and the other officers were wounded. The two suspects were taken into custody and the man who killed the patrolman was executed on May 14, 1915. Patrolman Tierney had served with the agency for only three months.” Tierney was actually shot and killed at the corner of 6th and Market St. in Wilmington as he tried to arrest him. Another patrolman, Willard S. Sharpless was shot and wounded at the same spot. Krakus then fled south to 5th, and over to Poplar, chased by Officers Scott, Green, and McDannell and then Krakus was wounded by several officers’ shots. That’s where Krakus was apprehended after wounding Officers Scott and McDannell. Tierney died, but the other officers all recovered. Krakus was executed on May 14, 1915. Also, the link to the photo of Tierney in his uniform is incorrect. The link should be https://www.depolicechiefs.org/in-memoriam and the link to the photo of the plaque no longer works.
Thanks, Kathy, for bringing this to our attention.