Emerson James Dillon Jr.
Agency patch
Trooper

Emerson James Dillon Jr.

New York State Police — Albany, NY
Felonious
End of Watch October 24, 1974
Age 38
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
Badge 597
Gender Male

Incident

Trooper Jim Dillon was shot and killed at 11:10 a.m. after stopping a suspicious vehicle on the New York State Thruway near Canastota. Unknown to Trooper Dillon, the two occupants had just committed an armed robbery and were fleeing the scene. Trooper Dillon approached the car and removed one of the suspects. During the ensuing scuffle, the second occupant exited the vehicle and shot Trooper Dillon. Before he died, Trooper Dillon was able to return fire, striking the suspect vehicle as it fled. Two suspects were apprehended later that day. A third suspect was arrested the following day in New York City. The suspect who shot Trooper Dillon was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. He was paroled in December 2017 at nearly 75 years old. One of the other suspects died in prison while serving a 25-year sentence. Trooper Dillon had served with the New York State Police for 16 years and was assigned to Troop T.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and six children.

In Our Keeping

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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Trooper Dillon gave the New York State Police 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of New York. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Dillon.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type State Police
Location Albany, Albany County, NY
Platform Identity nysp.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 24, 1974
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
Age 38
Badge Number 597
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Emerson is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1974, 162 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 22nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Emerson was 38. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Emerson had served 16 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

New York State Police has at least 120 officers remembered here, Emerson among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Trooper Emerson James Dillon Jr.

New York State Police · End of Watch October 24, 1974

Where the Name Is Cut

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