The Cleveland Police Museum is honored to tell the stories of our fallen officers on the anniversary of their End of Watch.
Nicholas Sheehan was appointed to the Cleveland Police Department on April 12, 1887 and promoted to sergeant five years later. Sergeant Sheehan, known by almost everyone on Cleveland’s southwest side and enjoyed a very gratifying career.
On September 5, 1894, at 3:00 am, Sergeant Sheehan and Patrolman Ralph were on patrol on a part of Clark Avenue known as “Cuba,” a Bohemian settlement between the Big Four tracks and Burton Street. Hearing a call for police on Clark Avenue, the officers rushed in that direction. They pursued two fleeing burglars but lost them in the darkness. The two officers separated. Moments later, several shots were heard and responding officers found Sheehan lying face down in the street with his gun in hand. Sheehan was shot just above the navel and died almost instantly. The murderers were never found, despite the best efforts of Sheehan’s fellow officers.
Sergeant Nicholas Sheehan was survived by his wife Julia and children Richard, Ella, Willie and Julia. The funeral Mass was held at St. Patrick’s Church and Nicholas Sheehan was laid to rest at St. John’s Cemetery. The funeral procession included Captain English, twenty patrolmen, members of the Great Western Band, the Knights of St. John, the Catholic Mutual Benevolent Association, city officials and over 60 carriages of mourners.
