Omaha Police Department, Nebraska
End of Watch: Thursday, January 31, 1918
Age: 36
Tour of Duty: 10 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: January 30, 1918
Weapon Used: Handgun; .38 caliber
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 20 years
Detective Frank Rooney succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous day when he and several other officers raided a house at 3207 N 14th Avenue.
They were investigating the robbery of a jewelry store on Dodge Street during which $15,000 in jewelry had been stolen. In a resulting gunfight Detective Rooney was mortally wounded and two suspects were wounded. Five suspects were taken into custody at the scene. An additional suspect who escaped was captured several weeks later.
Detective Rooney was transported to St. Joseph's Hospital where he died the following day.
All six suspects were charged with Detective Rooney's murder. Two were convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison. One of them was pardoned by the Governor one year later. The other suspect was paroled on November 21, 1928.
Detective Rooney served with the Omaha Polie Department for 10 years. He was survived by his wife and daughter. He is buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Omaha, Nebraska.