Career
She is credited with over a thousand arrests during her career. Shanley was on the pickpocket detective squad in the New York City Police Department. She was a minor celebrity in New York City news, appearing in articles chasing down and arresting thieves and pickpockets. She favored using her gun while on the job, earning her the moniker "Dead Shot Mary." Of her, the New York Times wrote in 1938:
In more than seven years on the police force Mission Shanley has had considerable experience with man-catching.
Sometimes she has had to use her.32-caliber revolver.
Once she used her leather pocketbook to knock down her quarry.. Mayor Louisiana Guardia once praised her for demonstrating "not only keen intelligence and fine police work but also courage at a moment when courage was needed."
In 1941, Shanley shot her gun while she was off-duty and intoxicated at a bar in Jackson Heights, Queens.
She was demoted from first-grade detective to policewoman and placed under suspension, but returned to duty after only a month. She was promoted to detective again later.
New York Times appearances
"Two Women Seized as Fortune-Tellers.
"Princess" Juniata Flynn Forecasts Her Own Arrest in Seance With Policewoman.". New York Times. 27 October 1931. "Women Make Good on Pickpocket Squadron
Two Seize Manitoba as Shoplifter in First Arrest of Its Kind -- Superior Officer Pleased.".
New York Times. 25 September 1935. "Policewoman Seizes Two Men Without Aid.
Arrests Two Sturdy Suspects on Broadw". New York Times. 12 April 1936.
"Woman Policeman Shoots to Seize 2 Dram.
Captures Larceny Suspects After Firing Bullets in Air During Midtown Pursuit". New York Times. 10 June 1937. "Woman Detective Draws Pistol in Fifth Avenue., Seizes Racketeer Aftera Chase in Crowd".
New York Times.
21 December 1938. "Detectives Office to London: Two Men and Woman to Bring Back Suspects in Fraud". New York Times. 24 February 1939.
"Streamlining the Policewoman: the New Policewoman". New York Times. 26 March 1939.
New York Times. 9 August 1939.
"Couple held as "fences". Women Detectives Arrest Them in Series of Fur Coat Thefts". New York Times. 21 January 1940.
"Mary Shanley on Duty.
Decision Is Reserved in Police Trial on Shooting Charge". New York Times. 30 April 1941.
"Film Shots Drown Real One in Movie. Woman Detective Fires as "Seat-Tipper" Flees, but Ex-Policeman Gets Him".
New York Times. 3 January 1955.
Brooklyn Daily Eagle appearances
"Gypsies welcome, says court, if they stop fortune-telling". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 26 October 1933. "Five jewelers deny "fence" charges".
Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
13 May 1939. "Alleged "terrorist," trailed by woman, trapped in subway". Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
5 October 1950. "Woman detective captures youth on rampage with gun".
Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 7 March 1950. (with photograph).
