Maurice Ahern was appointed as a “Special Patrolman” by New Rochelle on May 12th , 1899. On June 20th , 1903 he was shot and killed while patrolling a private neighborhood, Rochelle Park. The New Rochelle Press said of Patrolman Ahern, “The man was an exemplary official and highly esteemed.” At about 1:15 a.m., Patrolman Ahern observed an individual stumbling over the railroad tracks. After approaching the unidentified man, ‘a struggle ensued in which Patrolman Ahern was shot several times. On June 22nd at 9:00 p.m., the assailant was apprehended. Francesco Raffo was convicted on February 18th , 1904, and sentenced to be electrocuted. After a retrial he was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to twenty years in prison. Raffo was subsequently stabbed to death by another inmate.
A funeral was held for Patrolman Ahern on June 23rd, and the thirty-two year old was buried at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery under “a great pillow of roses”.
Each year, as part of National Police Week each May, the City of New Rochelle remembers the 8 New Rochelle police officers who died in the line of duty.