New York City Police Department, New York
End of Watch: Wednesday, June 26, 1918
Age: 25
Tour of Duty: 9 months
Badge Number: 1526
Cause of Death: Assault
Date of Incident: June 26, 1918
Weapon Used: Blunt object; Brick
Suspect Info: Charged with murder
Patrolman Joseph Nolan was killed when he was hit in the head with a brick thrown from the roof of a building.
Patrolman Nolan was walking his beat when he heard gunshots in the vicinity of West 39th Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues in Manhattan. Patrolman Nolan stopped and questioned three men in front of 526 West 39th Street, and then released them.
While standing in front of the same location and talking with two other patrolmen about the shots he had heard, several bricks were thrown from the roof of the building. One of the bricks struck Patrolman Nolan in the head, killing him.
An investigation revealed that the brick was thrown from an apartment where a party was being held. Two men were arrested the following day. One of them, age 18, was charged with homicide while the tenant was charged with violating New York State's Sullivan Act after several weapons were found in his apartment.
Patrolman Nolan was assigned to the 22nd Precinct. His wife and infant daughter survived him.