Detective

Donald Rainey

Accident
End of Watch September 29, 1965
Age 36
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Badge 2096
Gender Male

Incident

Donald J. Rainey joined the New York City Police Department on 11 May 1959 and was first assigned to patrol in the 73rd Precinct. In November 1961 he moved to plainclothes work in Manhattan North, and on 5 April 1965 he was promoted to detective and given shield 2096. That July he joined the Detective Division's auto squad.

On 28 September 1965 he was off duty in a café in upper Manhattan when a dispute broke out and he drew his weapon. Two young men called over a plainclothes officer, who shot him without realising he was a detective. Detective Rainey was taken to Roosevelt Hospital, where he died the next day, 29 September 1965.

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.
Patrolman Rainey gave the New York City Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Rainey.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location New York, NY
Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 29, 1965
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Age 36
Badge Number 2096
Gender Male
Assignment COBS Auto Squad

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Donald is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% 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
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1965, 56 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 83rd heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Donald was 36. 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. Donald had served 6 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 9.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

New York City Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Donald among them.

Across the years

Detective Donald Rainey

New York City Police Department · End of Watch September 29, 1965

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 15-W

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