Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Joseph Fitzpatrick was killed in a vehicle crash while searching for three escapees from the Onondaga County Penitentiary (current-day Jamesville Correctional Facility). While traveling on Cherry Valley Turnpike (current-day New York Interstate 20), the driver lost control of their patrol vehicle while going around a sharp curve. The car overturned and went off a 12-foot embankment. Sergeant Fitzpatrick was killed instantly. The trooper suffered minor injuries. Sergeant Fitzpatrick and the Trooper, who was driving, had been checking cars at a road checkpoint for over 48 hours while searching for the escaped felons. All three felons were apprehended. Sergeant Fitzpatrick had served with the New York State Police for 11 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three young children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-040A1DB1- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Joseph. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Fitzpatrick gave the New York State Police 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of New York. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Fitzpatrick.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Joseph L. Fitzpatrick 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 State Police, 94 of 171 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 55% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph L. Fitzpatrick's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph L. Fitzpatrick Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph L. Fitzpatrick is highlighted in Nov.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
170 officers from New York State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
