Patrolman Samuel T. Cunningham

Patrolman Samuel T. Cunningham

New York City Police Department, New York

End of Watch Tuesday, June 19, 1917

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Samuel T. Cunningham

Officer Cunningham was shot and killed while attempting to make an arrest in the Inwood section. He was transported to St. Lawrence Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds approximately three weeks later.

The 19-year-old suspect was arrested in New Jersey about six months later. He was a member of the National Guard and had used a weapon stolen from the National Guard Armory to murder Officer Cunningham. In February of 1918 he was convicted of murder and sentenced to 20 years to life. On October 16, 1920, he a another inmate nearly beat three guards to death and escaped in a stolen automobile from Sing Sing Prison. Six days later they were captured in Warner, New Hampshire. He got seven years added to his sentence for escape and another five years for assaulting the three guards. In 1947 he was paroled. In 1956 he was arrested by FBI agents in Las Angeles, California, for violating his parole.

Officer Cunningham was assigned to the 42nd Precinct, the present day 34th Precinct.

Bio

  • Age 35
  • Tour Not available
  • Badge 5454

Incident Details

  • Cause Gunfire
  • Incident Date Friday, May 25, 1917
  • Weapon Gun; Unknown type
  • Offender Paroled in 1947

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No passage of time can ever erase your service and the sacrifice you made and know that you will never be forgotten.

Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo (Retired)
Delaware State Police

June 19, 2020

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