Incident
Sergeant Carlton Longley suffered a fatal heart attack while responding to a burglary at Risley Hall, on Thurston Avenue, shortly after 2:00 am.
A group of Canadian college students was staying on the campus while attending a fraternity conference. Approximately 20 of the students were participating in an initiation ceremony when they broke a lock to gain entry into Risley Hall, an all-female dormitory, and then broke into several individual rooms with the intent of stealing lingerie. The group stole numerous clothing items and a purse. As campus police arrived, the group began to disperse from the "chaotic" scene.
Sergeant Longley stopped two of the suspects, but one fled when he asked for identification. Sergeant Longley turned to stop the second suspect when he suddenly collapsed. He was given oxygen but died a short time later.
Sergeant Longley had served with the Cornell University Police Department for 14 years.
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." Matthew 5:9
Chris Di Gerolamo Federal Air Marshal Service (Retired) August 18th, 2025
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- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Longley gave the Cornell University Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Ithaca community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Longley.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Carlton Charles Longley is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NY, 99 of 2,147 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 4.6% of this state's fallen. That is 0.6 percentage points above the national rate of 4%.
National Cause Distribution
How Cardiac compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Carlton Charles Longley's cause is highlighted.
How Carlton Charles Longley Compares
When Cardiac Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Cardiac deaths across the full memorial record. Carlton Charles Longley is highlighted in May.