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Police Officer

Melvin E. Hopkins

New York City Police Department — New York, NY

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch September 15, 1979

Age 39

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Badge 25923

The Vigil Panel 268 · Column 1 · Line 11 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Military Memorials 1 Also Remembered Department 1,221

Incident

Police Officer Melvin Hopkins was shot and killed while taking action during a robbery at the intersection of Nostrand Avenue and Atlantic Avenue, in Bedford-Stuyvesant, while off duty. Officer Hopkins was waiting in front of a liquor store owned by his uncle as the store closed for the night. A man attempted to gain entry, and Officer Hopkins told the man the store was closed. The man then produced a handgun. Officer Hopkins and the suspect exchanged shots, and Officer Hopkins was mortally wounded. As Officer Hopkins lay wounded on the ground, the suspect stole his service weapon and fled. Earlier Officer Hopkins assisted the bartender of a bar across the street eject the suspect along with sever other troublemakers who were with the suspect when he shot Officer Hopkins. The suspect, 21, was apprehended several days later and charged with murder. On July 8, 1980, he was convicted of murder and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. He was paroled on December 26, 2019. Officer Hopkins had served with the New York City Police Department for ten years and was assigned to the 77th Precinct. He had previously served three tours of duty with the United States Army in Vietnam.

Survivors

Officer Hopkins was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Police Officer Hopkins gave the New York City Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department New York City Police Department

Type Police Department

Location New York, NY

Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 15, 1979

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 39

Badge Number 25923

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Military Service

Melvin E. Hopkins served in the U.S. Army (1966â1969) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Melvin 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.

Compare against

Time

In 1979, 136 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 31st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Melvin was 39. 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. Melvin had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded