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Patrolman

Oliver Vance Stewart

New York Municipal Police — New York City, NY

Felonious

End of Watch February 2, 1884

Age 49

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

The Vigil Panel 22 · Column 3 · Line 1 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 20

Incident

Patrolman Oliver Stewart succumbed to injuries he received on August 19, 1883, when he attempted to stop a gang of men robbing and beating up another man and his family on the Woodhaven and Rockaway Beach Train around 7 p.m.

Four men and a woman followed a man onto the train and robbed him of his cash. They proceeded to beat him and his family while other passengers fled the train car. Patrolman Stewart came to the man's defense, thinking it was the result of an argument. The men attacked him, striking him with brass knuckles and kicking him until other train passengers pulled the men off Patrolman Stewart. When one of the suspects exited the train at Hunter's Point, Patrolman Stewart followed the man until he exited the 34th Street ferry. The suspect resisted arrest and struck Patrolman Stweart multiple times again. However, Patrolman Stewart was able to take the suspect to the 22nd Street Police Station, where the man was taken into custody.

The suspect was sentenced to 12 years in prison for assault and robbery.

Patrolman Stewart initially went back to work and received a reward for his heroic actions on August 19, 1883. He slowly lost the use of his arm, became paralyzed, and lost consciousness until passing away on February 2, 1884.

Patrolman Stewart had served with the New York Municipal Police Department for at least five years, assigned to the Eighteenth Precinct, which is the present-day 13th Precinct. He was survived by his wife and two children. His grandson served with the New York City Police Department.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two 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

142 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Stewart gave the New York Municipal Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department New York Municipal Police

Type Police Department

Location New York City, NY

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

Service Record

End of Watch February 2, 1884

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Age 49

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Assault

Weapon Blunt object

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Oliver is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.

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

See the roll

Compare against

Time

In 1884, 54 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 136th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.

Every year on record · Worldwide

Who

Oliver was 49. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Oliver had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

February holds 7.4% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Saturdays: 16.2%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was blunt object, in 1.1% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded