Roll of Honor
Incident
Trooper David Cunniff succumbed to injuries sustained the previous night when his patrol car was struck from behind by a tractor-trailer at approximately 8:25 pm.
He had made a traffic stop of the speeding vehicle on the New York State Thruway, at Exit 27, and was stopped on the shoulder when the semi hit his patrol car from behind. The impact caused him to become partially ejected. He was transported to a local hospital with massive injuries but succumbed to those injuries the following day.
On February 3rd, 2015, the driver of the tractor-trailer was charged with aggravated criminally negligent homicide, aggravated manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and several traffic violations.
Trooper Cunniff had served with the New York State Police for nine years and was assigned to Troop T.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two young sons.
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.
Trooper Cunniff gave the New York State Police 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of New York. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Cunniff.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Trooper David W. Cunniff is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In NY, 645 of 2,147 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30% of this state's fallen. That is 30 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At New York State Police, 94 of 171 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 55% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. David W. Cunniff's cause is highlighted.
How David W. Cunniff Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. David W. Cunniff is highlighted in Dec.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
170 officers from New York State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
