Roll of Honor
Incident
Lieutenant Joseph Petrosino was assassinated by the Italian mafia in Sicily, Italy while conducting an investigation. Lieutenant Petrosino founded the agency's Italian Squad, which was responsible for investigating the Italian mafia in New York City and was responsible for decreasing Italian mafia crime by fifty percent. He was sent to Italy in an attempt to infiltrate the mob and collect evidence that would shut them down for good. The mafia received a tip that he was a police officer and killed him. More than 250,000 citizens attended his funeral. A trial was held in connection with Lieutenant Petrosino's murder; a local crime boss had been arrested by Lieutenant Petrosino years before for involvement in a New York murder, then deported, but was brought to trial for participation in Lieutenant Petrosino's death. The suspect was acquitted because of an alibi but claimed afterward that he had killed Lieutenant Petrosino. The suspect was imprisoned years later on another murder charge and died in prison in 1943. In addition to the crime boss, who is believed to have masterminded Lieutenant Petrosino's killing, there were two other suspects believed to have been the actual triggermen, one was arrested but released for lack of evidence and died years later in a mental hospital; the other committed suicide in 1969. Lieutenant Petrosino had been with the New York City Police Department for 25 years. He was survived by his wife and infant daughter. He is buried in Calvary Cemetery, Woodside, Queens County, New York.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and infant daughter.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-NY-D6AA3AEE- 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
25 years. You could have gone home.
Lieutenant Petrosino gave the New York City Police Department 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Petrosino.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Lieutenant Giuseppe Petrosino 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 97,784 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 35.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At New York City Police Department, 382 of 1237 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 30.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Giuseppe Petrosino's cause is highlighted.
How Giuseppe Petrosino Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Giuseppe Petrosino is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Giuseppe Petrosino was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
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