Roll of Honor
Incident
Trooper Joseph Gallagher succumbed to injuries sustained on December 18th, 2017, when he was struck by a vehicle.
Trooper Gallagher was assisting a motorist on the westbound Long Island Expressway at the entrance ramp to the Sagtikos Parkway when he was struck by a passing motorist who was distracted by three texting conversations.
Trooper Gallagher was seriously injured and died three years later from his injuries.
The driver of the vehicle that struck Trooper Gallagher was arrested and charged with third-degree assault with criminal negligence, a misdemeanor. He was sentenced to 30 days time served, three years of probation, and 1,000 hours of community service.
Trooper Gallagher was a U.S Coast Guard veteran and had served with the New York State Police for seven years.
The driver of the vehicle that struck Trooper Gallagher was arrested and charged with third-degree assault with criminal negligence, a misdemeanor. He was sentenced to 30 days time served, three years of probation, and 1,000 hours of community service.
Trooper Gallagher was a U.S Coast Guard veteran and had served with the New York State Police for seven years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-BA659888- 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. Coast Guard. One record, 2 gates. Joseph 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.
Trooper Gallagher gave the New York State Police 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of New York. Thank you 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
Joseph J. Gallagher served in the U.S. Coast Guard before joining law enforcement.
Trooper Joseph J. Gallagher is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 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 J. Gallagher's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph J. Gallagher Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph J. Gallagher is highlighted in Mar.
Incident Location
Military Service
Joseph J. Gallagher served in the U.S. Coast Guard before joining law enforcement.
Visit Joseph J. Gallagher’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
170 officers from New York State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
