East Orange Police Department, New Jersey
End of Watch: Sunday, February 14, 1937
Age: 39
Tour of Duty: 10 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: February 14, 1937
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Executed in 1938
Police Officer Thomas Ennis was shot and killed when he interrupted a robbery of a diner in the 500 block of Main Street while walking his beat shortly after 6:00 am.
Two suspects were in the process of robbing the diner and had taken the three workers into a back room and were attempting to flee when Officer Ennis encountered them in the doorway. During the ensuing struggle Officer Ennis was shot once in the abdomen. Despite being mortally wounded, he was able to return fire and wounded both suspects as they fled.
Both men were arrested the following day. They were both convicted of murder, sentenced to death, and subsequently executed together on April 1st, 1938.
Officer Ennis had served with the East Orange Police Department for 10 years.