On a tragic day in New Orleans, January 7, 1973, a dedicated public servant, Deputy Superintendent Louis Joseph Sirgo, a 48-year-old male, lost his life in the line of duty. A 21-year veteran of the New Orleans Police Department and a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, Sirgo was known for his leadership and had risen to the second-highest position in the department.
He was a man who had previously spoken about the societal issues that can lead to a life of crime.
The events that led to his untimely death began when a sniper, later identified as Mark Essex, initiated a reign of terror from the rooftop of what was then a Howard Johnson's Hotel on Loyola Avenue. As chaos unfolded and civilians and officers came under fire, Deputy Superintendent Sirgo demonstrated immense bravery. He was leading a team of officers up a darkened stairwell in an attempt to rescue two other officers who were trapped inside an elevator.
It was in this heroic act that Sirgo’s life was cut short. As he and his team made their way up the stairs, the suspect, who was concealed in the stairwell, opened fire. Deputy Superintendent Sirgo was struck by the gunfire and fell backward onto his fellow officers. Along with Sirgo, two other officers, Patrolman Philip Coleman and Patrolman Paul Persigo, were also killed by the sniper that day. The violent spree ultimately resulted in the deaths of a total of nine people, including police officers and hotel guests.
The perpetrator, Mark Essex, was killed by police, who utilized a helicopter to gain a tactical advantage and end the siege. Investigations later revealed that Essex, who was a member of the Black Panthers, was also responsible for the murders of two other police officers in separate incidents that had occurred just days earlier. As the sole suspect was killed at the scene, there were no subsequent arrests or trials in connection with the death of Deputy Superintendent Louis Joseph Sirgo and the other victims of that tragic day.
