This page is dedicated to all Law Enforcement Officers that have given the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. 

A special dedication on this page is for Binghamton NY Police Officer Lee Barta. 

Lee was shot and killed in the line of duty on 8/3/95 while trying to arrest an 18-year-old fugitive who had escaped from a prison work release program.  The suspect later committed suicide.  Lee was one of the few people who graduated from Union-Endicott High School in 1984 and went on to become a Police Officer.  Lee left behind an expectant wife, Mary and 2 children.

POLICE OFFICER

LEE BARTA

Binghamton Police Department  08/03/95

New York City Transit Police Officers

POLICE OFFICER

JOHN TUOHY  

Badge #415  District 2  03/20/63  

On March 20, 1963 officer John Tuohy, while on patrol on the IRT White Plains Line, observed a male snatch a women's handbag and flee to the street.

Officer Tuohy gave chase and arrested the culprit.  He transported the culprit to the local precinct.  As Police Officer Tuohy was reporting the details of the arrest to  the Desk Officer at the precinct, he suffered a fatal heart attack.

Police Officer Tuohy was a member of the Transit Police Department for 24 years at the time of his death.  Officer Tuohy is the first Transit Police Officer to die in the line of duty.

POLICE OFFICER

LLOYD INNES 

Badge #1366  District 30  06/16/67

In 1966, P.O. Lloyd Innes, while on train patrol, awoke a sleeping passenger on the train.  The male awoke enraged and grabbed Officer's Innes' nightstick and began beating the officer over the head with it.  To protect himself, Officer Innes drew his revolver and shot the male, crippling him,  The assailant vowed revenge for his injuries at all cost.

The culprit lived in the Innes' neighborhood.  On June 16, 1967, the culprit approached Officer Innes, who was off duty sitting in his car, and shot and killed him.

Officer Innes left behind a wife and three daughters, one of which became a New York City Police Officer.

POLICE OFFICER

MICHAEL MELCHIONA

Badge #3148  District 1  02/28/70

On February 28, 1970. at the 50th Street and Broadway station, Officer Melchiona encountered a male smoking in the men's room.  As Officer Melchiona was issuing a summons to the male, the culprit pulled a gun on Officer Melchiona and took the officer's weapon, then fled to the street.

Officer Melchiona gave chase, even though he was unarmed.  As he approached the male at 50th Street and Broadway, the culprit turned and fired, killing Officer Melchiona.

Other police officers responding to the scene, shot and killed the culprit. Officer Melchiona left a wife, a 2 year- old-son and a month old daughter. Officer Melchiona's brother, also a Transit Police Officer retired in 1986.

POLICE OFFICER

JOHN SKAGEN

Badge #3229  District 2  06/28/72

On June 28, 1972 Officer John Skagen was in plain clothes returning from court, when he came upon a man with a gun protruding from his waistband.  He ordered the gunman up against the wall and while attempting to make an arrest, the culprit turned and fired two rounds, both striking the officer.  Police officer Skagen returned fire , wounding the culprit.

The culprit then fled up the stairs of the subway running into two city police officers who had heard the shots and were responding.  He told the police officer's there "was a crazy man downstairs with a gun".

The city police officers, seeing Officer Skagen with a gun in his hand, and thinking he was the culprit, fired several shots, killing Officer Skagen.

The culprit was later captured, but never convicted of the killing of Officer Skagen. Officer Skagen was survived by a wife and a son, who 20 years later became a police officer.

POLICE OFFICER

SID THOMPSON

Badge #3801  District 12  06/05/73

On June 5, 1973, Officer Sid Thompson was on plain clothes duty at the 174th Street subway station.

He observed two males jumping over the turnstile.  As he approached them, one of the males pulled out a gun and shot Officer Thompson numerous times.

Officer Thompson was able to return fire and the culprit was wounded in the left ankle and the throat.  Officer Thompson was rushed to Jocobi Hospital in the Bronx where he died of his wounds.

It was later learned that the culprits who were captured after a gun fight with other officers, were members of the Black Liberation Army.   Officer Thompson left a wife a daughter and a son who became a city police officer.

DETECTIVE

GEORGE CACCAVALE

Badge #894  DD  06/26/76

On June 26, 1976, while working off duty at a check cashing company, Det. George Caccavale was transporting a large sum of money to the check cashing store.  When he arrived at the store, three armed males accosted him demanding the money.

At this time, Det. Caccavale attempted to draw his weapon but was shot by the culprits.  Then the culprits took Det. Caccavale's gun.  The detective attempted to get to his backup gun.  The culprits shot the officer again, then fled with the money and the officer's weapon.

Detective Caccavale died of his wounds.  All three culprits were later apprehended and received 25 years to life in prison.

POLICE OFFICER

CARLOS KING

Badge #2005  District 2  12/20/76

Officer King was working a second job as a cab driver.  On December 20, 1976, he picked up a teenage fare in Manhattan, drove him to Queens.   The youth then shot the Officer King to death and robbed him.  Officer Kings shield was displayed indicating he had attempted to take police action.  The murdered was later arrested.   Officer King was survived by his wife and 2 sons, one of whom became a city police officer.

POLICE OFFICER

SERAPHIN (SAMMY) CALABRESE

Badge #3123  District 1  02/24/80

On February 24, 1980, at about 9:30 PM Police Officer Seraphin Calabrese, while on uniformed patrol at the 59th St. & 8th Avenue IND station in Manhattan, encountered a male who was attempting to enter the subway without paying his fare.   When the suspect was denied entry, he physically attacked Officer Calabrese, knocking the officer to his knee.  The culprit was able to wrench Officer Calabrese's service revolver from his holster.

The assailant, then at point blank range, shot Officer Calabrese in the face. As the officer fell back into a prone position, his attacker fired again hitting Officer Calabrese in the back.

The culprit then ran to the street where he attempted to flee while discharging four more bullets randomly at unknown targets.  Transit Police Officers from a District 1 Radio Motor Patrol car apprehended the culprit.  Officer Calabrese died of his wounds an hour later.  Surviving Officer Calabrese were his wife, daughter and stepdaughter.

POLICE OFFICER

IRVING W. SMITH

Badge #4381 Transit Police Academy  02/29/80

On the night of February 29, 1980, while off duty, Police Officer Irving W. Smith was one of several patrons in a tavern on Rogers Avenue in Brooklyn.   While Officer Smith was seated at the bar, two men entered the premises, displayed weapons and announced a holdup.  One culprit, brandishing a 14 inch carving knife, walked behind the bar.  His accomplice, standing to the left of Officer Smith and holding a .38 caliber revolver, ordered the patrons to place their hands on the bar.