Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Moriarty died of an accidental gunshot fired by another detective when he and several other detectives confronted several burglary suspects inside 306 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan at 5 p.m. Detective Moriarty was assigned to the loft building squad and had been following two suspects for several weeks when they were observed entering the building and stealing silks valued at $100,000. Upon being discovered by police, one of the suspects fled by way of the roof, and Detective Moriarty gave chase. The two exchanged gunfire, and Detective Moriarty was struck in the neck with one shot by a fellow detective who was also exchanging gunfire with the suspect. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds eight days later. Both suspects were apprehended. Detective Moriarty had served with the New York City Police Department for five years and was assigned to the 23rd Detective Division.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children, two of whom became New York City Police officers after serving in World War II.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-952F4E70- 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.
Detective Sergeant Moriarty gave the New York City Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Moriarty.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Sergeant John J. Moriarty is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In NY, 645 of 2,147 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30% of this state's fallen. That is 30 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At New York City Police Department, 283 of 1237 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 22.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John J. Moriarty's cause is highlighted.
How John J. Moriarty Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. John J. Moriarty is highlighted in Jul.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1,236 officers from New York City Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
