Patrolman Francis Garret McKeon was honored in a memorial ceremony at the 34th Precinct in Washington Heights on Monday, Nov. 17, the 80th anniversary of his shooting death.
One of his surviving daughters, Jane O’Neill, who was just a few months old when he died, attended the event with her two sons.
McKeon was killed in Highbridge Park on his first morning returning to duty having served with the United States Navy for two years during World War II.
Patrolman McKeon responded to a domestic incident on West 174th Street where he encountered an emotionally disturbed man. McKeon pursued him into Highbridge Park and a physical confrontation followed during which he was overpowered and shot dead with his own service revolver.
McKeon had joined the NYPD in 1941 before being inducted into the United States Navy a year later. McKeon was a Yeoman 2nd Class in the Navy and was honorably discharged in 1944. He returned to the NYPD afterwards and was killed on Nov. 17, 1945.
The patrolman was posthumously awarded the NYPD medal of honor, the department’s highest accolade.
Deputy Chief Eric Pagan, an executive officer of the Patrol Borough Manhattan North, paid tribute to McKeon’s bravery in service.
‘McKeon belonged to a remarkable generation, one defined by courage, resilience and an unshakeable belief in duty” he said.
“‘It is only through our collective commitment that we can continue to ensure that the heroes of our past will never be forgotten,” Pagan added.
Jane O’Neill, who has a sister Mary Ellen, was accompanied by her two sons Terence and Brendan O’Neill. She said she was “overwhelmed by the wonderful outpouring of support.”
And added, “I was afraid that people would forget what happened to him, but now I know he will never be forgotten and I appreciate it so much.”
The ceremony had been arranged by Officer Kevin J. Murphy, trustee for patrol borough Manhattan North of the Police Benevolent Association.
Since being appointed as a trustee Murphy has sought to commemorate NYPD officers who have died in the line of duty. (Officer Murphy attended the street-naming ceremony in October 2023 for Cork-born Patrolman William McAuliffe, who was shot dead by unknown assailant in 1916. See here.) He said, “It always bothered me that nothing was done to honor officers who had fallen in the line of duty.”
Murphy combs through old police records in search of family members to invite to the commemoration ceremonies.
He said that the NYPD’s “unofficial motto of ‘Never Forget’ is “something that we have to teach the younger generation.
“It’s important we continue the traditions and honor them even if it’s been 80 years,” he added.
McKeon was one of many Irish American patrolmen in the 34th precinct. His parents had emigrated to the United States from Counties Mayo and Longford.
Many of the last names on the 34th precinct’s wall of honor are Irish – a reflection of the strong Irish community that once existed in Washington Heights and Inwood.
There were representatives from the Emerald Society, the largest fraternal group in the NYPD, and the Ancient Order of Hibernians at the ceremony.
Glenn Lynch, trustee for retired members of the Emerald Society, said, “It is good to keep the tradition alive given the Irish have such a huge history in the NYPD.”
Pete Dennehy, Vice-President of Division 3 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, said, “It’s important that we honor those who came before us and those who gave their lives in the line of duty.”
Sean Halpin and Ester Devally, who are both Gardaí, also attended. They are pursuing graduate degrees in criminal justice at John Jay College as part of the Jerry McCabe Fellowship – a program that sponsors Irish police officers to study in New York for a year.
Garda Halpin said that “it has been great to see the American side of policing and to be able to bring that back home.”
Firefighters from nearby Engines 93 and 95 were present, too, along with members of the New York State Police.
The NYPD Pipes & Drums provided a bagpipe accompaniment at the end of the ceremony as a wreath was presented to the family of Patrolman McKeon.
