Emerson James Dillon Jr.

New York State Police — Albany, NY

Felonious

End of Watch October 24, 1974

Age 38

Tour of Duty 16 yrs

Badge 597

The Vigil Panel 114 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 170

Incident

Trooper Jim Dillon was shot and killed at 11:10 a.m. after stopping a suspicious vehicle on the New York State Thruway near Canastota. Unknown to Trooper Dillon, the two occupants had just committed an armed robbery and were fleeing the scene. Trooper Dillon approached the car and removed one of the suspects. During the ensuing scuffle, the second occupant exited the vehicle and shot Trooper Dillon. Before he died, Trooper Dillon was able to return fire, striking the suspect vehicle as it fled. Two suspects were apprehended later that day. A third suspect was arrested the following day in New York City. The suspect who shot Trooper Dillon was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. He was paroled in December 2017 at nearly 75 years old. One of the other suspects died in prison while serving a 25-year sentence. Trooper Dillon had served with the New York State Police for 16 years and was assigned to Troop T.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and six children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-1A28B54A
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
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 Dillon gave the New York State Police 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of New York. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Dillon.

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

Agency

Department New York State Police

Type State Police

Location Albany, NY

Platform Identity nysp.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 24, 1974

Tour of Duty 16 yrs

Age 38

Badge Number 597

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Trooper Emerson James Dillon Jr. 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 Police, 29 of 171 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 17% of this agency's fallen.

New York State Police

of 171 officers

17% Felonious

NY — Statewide

728

of 2,147 officers

33.9% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious