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Incident
Patrolman Joseph Sternberg was killed in an automobile crash when his cruiser struck a tree on Woodmere Boulevard at Channel Road in Woodsburgh. He was transported to St. Joseph's Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries at 3:30 a.m. He was a United States Army WWII veteran and had served with the Nassau County Police Department for four years, assigned to the Fourth Precinct.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two children, parents, and a brother who was also a law enforcement officer with the agency.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- 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.
Patrolman Sternberg gave the Nassau County Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Mineola 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Joseph Sternberg served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Accident
Nassau County Police Department has lost 51 officers; 21 of them lost to accidents.
Joseph is one of 641 officers lost to accidents in NY, 30.1% of the 2,132 remembered there.
Joseph is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Joseph is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1954, 2 officers at Nassau County Police Department were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1954, 9 officers in NY were lost to accidents, the 18th heaviest of 137 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 24.
In 1954, 69 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 51st heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1954, 73 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 70th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Joseph was 26. Of the 21 lost to accidents at Nassau County Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 41; the middle age was 38. Joseph had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Joseph was 26. Of the 575 lost to accidents in NY whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 44; the middle age was 37. Joseph had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Joseph was 26. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Joseph had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Joseph was 26. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Joseph had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
August holds 9.5% of these deaths at Nassau County Police Department; February holds the most, 19%. Mondays: 14.3%.
August holds 9.7% of these deaths in NY; October holds the most, 10.3%. Mondays: 13.4%.
August holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Mondays: 13.4%.
August holds 9.3% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Mondays: 13.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 41.2% of all 51 deaths at Nassau County Police Department, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30.1% of all 2,132 deaths in NY, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Nassau County Police Department has 51 officers remembered here, Joseph among them.
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John A. Hahn
Sep 24, 1925
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John P. Dowd
Apr 30, 1929
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Fred S. Hirsch
May 6, 1931
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Alvin J. Borgwardt
Feb 25, 1932
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Milton E. Verity
Feb 25, 1932
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John Davis Kennedy
Jul 12, 1932
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Lawrence E. Duncan
Oct 12, 1935
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Arthur J. Klepper
Dec 3, 1937
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Alexander N. Benedict
Feb 3, 1939
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Charles H. Shaw
Sep 6, 1940
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David J. Murphy
Sep 9, 1942
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John E. West
Feb 4, 1946
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Adam Yulch
Jul 2, 1950
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William R. Sellers
May 19, 1954
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Joseph Sternberg
Aug 16, 1954
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Alfred J. Del Giorno
Dec 7, 1956
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John F. Daly
Oct 28, 1957
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Louis A. De Francesco
Nov 28, 1957
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Robert H. Pickwick
Aug 6, 1960
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Joseph L. Coote
Mar 22, 1961
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William Trofemuk
May 14, 1961
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Kathleen M. Reilly
Dec 25, 1967
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Richard B. Rose
Dec 29, 1971
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Matthew Francis Giglio
Dec 16, 1975
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George R. Kempen
Nov 14, 1976
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Michael J. Kavanagh
May 29, 1977
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Robert J. Harris
May 17, 1978
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Daniel J. Greer
Dec 16, 1979
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Gary R. Farley
Mar 7, 1993
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Peter Francis Curran
Apr 12, 2006
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Michael J. Califano
Feb 5, 2011
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Geoffrey J. Breitkopf
Mar 12, 2011
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Charles Dennis Cole, Jr.
Aug 14, 2011
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Robert D. Negri, Jr.
Sep 28, 2011
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Joseph Paul Olivieri, Jr.
Oct 18, 2012
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Arthur Lopez
Oct 23, 2012
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Peter Martino
Feb 5, 2014
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Michael J. Kearns
Jun 8, 2014
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Paul J. McCabe
Sep 25, 2015
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Brian R. Abbondandelo
Jul 28, 2016
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Michael P. Shea
Apr 1, 2017
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Steven Clifford
May 23, 2017
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James V. Quinn
Sep 18, 2017
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Billy Erdmann
Oct 7, 2019
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Erick W. Contreras
Jan 15, 2021
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Matthew Anthony Perlungher
Aug 4, 2021
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Charles C. Vroom
Sep 12, 2021
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Hector M. Nunez
Dec 8, 2021
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Christopher A. Cizmarik
Dec 27, 2023
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Kevin Canavan
Jun 30, 2024
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Philip J. Schifini
Nov 27, 2024
Where
Military Service
Joseph Sternberg served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit Joseph Sternberg’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 21-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
50 officers from Nassau County Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
