Barry N. Sutherland

New York State Division of Parole — Albany, NY

Veteran → Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch December 13, 1976

Age 32

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 118 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 5

Incident

Parole Officer Barry Sutherland was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a parole violator in New York City. Officer Sutherland and two other parole officers got a tip that a parolee who had failed to appear, and had a warrant, was going to be at 16 East 42nd Street in Manhattan. The three officers waited in the lobby of the building for the suspect. When the suspect entered, he immediately recognized the parole officers and began to flee on foot. The suspect then drew a .32 caliber handgun and opened fire, killing Officer Sutherland and wounding a civilian. Because the lobby was crowded with civilians, the other parole officers did not return fire but instead tackled the suspect and placed him under arrest. The suspect, who was on parole for criminal possession of a weapon, was later convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. On May 30th, 1978, the suspect escaped from Sing Sing State Prison. He was shot and killed on June 20th, 1978, in a shootout with a New York City police officer after a team of officers from the New York Division of Parole and the New York City Police Department tracked the suspect to an apartment in East New York, Brooklyn. Officer Sutherland was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the New York State Division of Parole for four years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-35976891
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Barry. Claim this record.

Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army, salute.nw. One record, 3 gates. Barry is one person.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

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.
Parole Officer Sutherland gave the New York State Division of Parole 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Albany 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 State Division of Parole

Type Other

Location Albany, NY

Platform Identity nysdp.albany.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 13, 1976

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 32

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Military Service

Barry N. Sutherland served in the the United States military (1967â1973) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Parole Officer Barry N. Sutherland 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 97,759 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 Division of Parole, 2 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.

New York State Division of Parole

of 6 officers

33.3% Felonious

NY — Statewide

728

of 2,147 officers

33.9% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious