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Patrolman

Gregory Philip Foster

New York City Police Department — New York, NY

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch January 27, 1972

Age 22

Tour of Duty 1 yrs

Badge 13737

The Vigil Panel 109 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 1,236

Incident

Patrolman Gregory Foster and Patrolman Rocco Laurie were assassinated by members of the Black Liberation Army while walking their patrol beat on Avenue B and East 11th Street in the 9th Precinct. As they were walking down the street, three or four suspects walked past them, spun around, and opened fire, shooting them in their backs. After the patrolmen fell, the killers took their handguns and shot them several more times. On Feb. 14, 1972, one of two suspects was shot and killed in a gun battle with police in St. Louis, Missouri. The other suspect, arrested at the scene, had Officer Laurie's service revolver in his possession. He was returned to New York and charged with two counts of murder. He was acquitted in 1973. He was returned to Missouri, where he was sentenced to 25 years in prison for convictions from the St. Louis incident. A third suspect was captured in New Orleans in 1973. He was sentenced to life in prison for the murders of Patrolman Waverly Jones and Patrolman Joseph A. Piagentiai of the New York City Police Department on May 21, 1971. Patrolman Foster had served with the New York City Police Department for one year. He was survived by his wife, two children, parents, and five siblings. His grandson became an officer with the NYPD. Officer Foster and Officer Laurie served in the U.S. Marine Corps together and were Vietnam combat veterans. When they joined the New York City Police Department, they requested to be assigned to the same Precinct. The Black Liberation Army was a violent, radical group that attempted to fight for independence from the United States government in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The BLA was responsible for the murders of more than 10 police officers and the wounding of many more law enforcement officers. Please click here to visit all the law enforcement officers who have died as a result of the Black Liberation Army's violent activism.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two children, parents, and five siblings.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-2D261F9E
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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Marine Corps. One record, 2 gates. Gregory is one person.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Foster gave the New York City Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the New York community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department New York City Police Department

Type Police Department

Location New York, NY

Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 27, 1972

Tour of Duty 1 yrs

Age 22

Badge Number 13737

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Military Service

Gregory Philip Foster served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman Gregory Philip Foster 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 97,759 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

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious