Detective
Louis Leroy Shirley
New York Central Railroad Police Department
Saturday, April 14, 1923

Age: 28
Served: 3 years
Badge #:
Panel 22E, Line 24
Panel L15, Line 12 (2009)

Incident Details

Cause of Death:
Gunfire
Date/Time of Incident:
Saturday, April 14, 1923
05:25 am
Incident to Death Duration:
Same day
Incident Location:
New York Central rail yards, Elkhart
Incident County:
Elkhart
Incident Township:
Concord
Weapon Used:
Gun (unknown type)
Suspect Disposition:
Paroled in 1925
Burial Place:
Rice Cemetery, Elkhart

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   Detective Louis Shirley was shot and killed while patrolling the New York Central rail yards in downtown Elkhart.

   He was shot in the back twice when he interrupted the burglary of railroad cars near the passenger terminal.

   Detective Shirley was transported to Elkhart General Hospital where he died. He had voluntarily started his shift 30 minutes early but was shot only 23 minutes later.

   A 24-year-old suspect was convicted of manslaughter, sentenced to two to 21 years in prison and paroled in 1925. The suspect was sentenced to life in prison in 1939 after a conviction of being an habitual offender.

   Detective Shirley, from Elkhart, had received several citations for bravery while in the armed forces. He was single and survived by his widowed mother.

Military Service


United States Army
World War I
Private First Class (PFC)


The responsibilities of the New York Central Railroad Police Department (1853–1968) are now under the jurisdiction of the Norfolk Southern Railway Police Department.

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New York Central Railroad Police Department

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Detective Louis Leroy Shirley - New York Central Railroad Police Department - INLEM.org