Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer John Silinsky was shot and mortally wounded at 12:20 a.m. when he attempted to stop a robbery while off duty. The suspect attempted to rob the Major Deegan Motel at 3600 Bailey Avenue in the Bronx, where Officer Silinsky moonlighted as a night manager. Officer Silinsky witnessed two armed men entering the hotel. He shut and locked the door, but the subject fired through the door, striking Officer Silinsky in the head with a 9mm semi-automatic pistol. The men fled the scene. Officer Silinsky was transported to a local hospital but died four days later. A suspect was later arrested and charged with murder but was found not guilty. Officer Silinsky was a United States WWII U.S. Army veteran and served with the Yonkers Police Department for 28 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, three children, and grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-DA777202- 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 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.
Police Officer Silinsky gave the Yonkers Police Department 28 years.
Thank you for your service to the Yonkers 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John Silinsky served in the Army (1943â1946) before joining law enforcement.
Police Officer John Silinsky 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 Yonkers Police Department, 3 of 20 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 15% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Silinsky's cause is highlighted.
How John Silinsky Compares
Offender Outcome
Charged with murder; found not guilty
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Silinsky is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Silinsky was killed by handgun; 9 mm.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
19 officers from Yonkers Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
