Gerald A. DeGroot

New York State Police — Albany, NY

Felonious

End of Watch June 24, 1978

Age 48

Tour of Duty 19 yrs

The Vigil Panel 120 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 170

Incident

Zone Sergeant Gerald DeGroot was killed when his Troop Car was stuck head on by a vehicle being operated by an 18-year-old intoxicated driver going the wrong way on Leray Street in Watertown. The subject was seriously injured.

The suspect was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide.

The officer had been a member of the New York State Police for 19 years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-6831351A
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: 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.
Zone Sergeant DeGroot gave the New York State Police 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of New York. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Zone Sergeant DeGroot.

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

Agency

Department New York State Police

Location Albany, NY

Platform Identity nysp.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 24, 1978

Tour of Duty 19 yrs

Age 48

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Offender Convicted of negligent homicide

Zone Sergeant Gerald A. DeGroot is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In NY, 754 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.1% of this state's fallen. That is 19.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

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

754

of 2,147 officers

35.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious