David Gourley
Agency patch
Patrolman

David Gourley

Felonious
End of Watch November 5, 1854
Age 36
The Vigil Panel 2 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Gourley succumbed to stab wounds he received two days earlier while walking a prisoner to the station house.

As Patrolman Gourley was walking the prisoner to the station, one of the prisoners friends attempted to stop him. The man told the officer that no friend of his was to be arrested. Patrolman Gourley was then stabbed in the cheek. He attempted to take this suspect into custody, but was stabbed again, this time in the side.

The suspect was taken into custody by another officer who came upon the scene.

Looking to Honor all the LOD Officers, Trying to Locate this Officers Grave. Any help to Identify and Locate this Heros Grave in Calvary Cemetery would be Very Much Appreciated.

Retired Lt Bill Markowski

Lt William Markowski NYPD July 8th, 2025

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-BB8EF304
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

172 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Gourley served with the New York Municipal Police Force.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

— 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 November 5, 1854
Age 36
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Stabbed
Weapon Edged weapon; Knife

Patrolman David Gourley 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 City Police Department, 365 of 1237 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 29.5% of this agency's fallen.

New York City Police Department
365
of 1,237 officers
29.5% 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. David Gourley's cause is highlighted.

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

How David Gourley Compares

Age at Death
36
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. David Gourley is highlighted in Nov.

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. David Gourley was killed by edged weapon; knife.

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

Incident Location