Albert Gelb
Agency patch
Court Officer

Albert Gelb

Felonious
End of Watch March 11, 1976
Age 25
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
The Vigil Panel 117 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Court Officer Albert Gelb was assassinated on 109th Street, near his home in Queens, by members of the mob as retaliation for making an off-duty arrest for gun possession in a restaurant. Officer Gelb had just gone off-duty and was driving home when a car pulled up next to him and the occupant opened fired, striking Officer Gelb once. The suspect then got out of his car and shot Officer Gelb three more times. Members of the John Gotti Crime Family were arrested and charged in federal court but the prosecution was unable to produce enough evidence. In February 2008 a suspect was indited for five murders, including the murder of Officer Gelb. In September 2009, the suspect was found guilty of four other murders and sentenced to life in prison. Although he was not found guilty of Gelb's murder, that was taken into consideration at the time of sentence. Court Officer Gelb was assigned to the Criminal Court in Brooklyn. He had served with the New York State Office of Court Administration for 3 years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-94679DE6
Stewardship
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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.
Court Officer Gelb gave the New York State Office of Court Administration 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Albany community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Court Officer Gelb.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Albany, NY
Platform Identity nysoca.albany.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 11, 1976
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 25
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Court Officer Albert Gelb is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In NY, 728 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.9% of this state's fallen. That is 33.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At New York State Office of Court Administration, 3 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.9% of this agency's fallen.

New York State Office of Court Administration
3
of 7 officers
42.9% Felonious
NY — Statewide
728
of 2,147 officers
33.9% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Albert Gelb's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Albert Gelb Compares

Age at Death
25
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
3
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Albert Gelb is highlighted in Mar.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Albert Gelb was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location