Leon Fox

New York City Police Department — New York, NY

Felonious

End of Watch February 16, 1941

Age 32

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Badge 2196

The Vigil Panel 77 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1,236

Incident

Patrolman Leon Fox was shot and killed while escorting a store manager to the bank to deposit the daily receipts. Patrolman Fox was assigned to escort the manager of Loew’s Coney Island Movie Theatre to the bank with the daily receipts. As Patrolman Fox and the manager approached the bank entrance, they were approached by three men. One of the men grabbed the suitcase from the manager, and all three fled on foot. Patrolman Fox pursued the suspect but was shot and killed by the suspect. Before he died, Patrolman Fox emptied his gun at the suspect as they fled. All three suspects were later apprehended and convicted of murder. They were all sentenced to death. The verdict was then overturned by the United States Supreme Court. Two suspects were freed, and the third was retired. He was acquitted of all charges in that trial. Patrolman Fox had served with the New York City Police Department for ten years and was assigned to the 60th Precinct. He was survived by his wife and son. In July 2019, the corner of West 12th Street and Surf Avenue, where he was shot, was renamed Police Officer Leon Fox Way.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-8C480B7D
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Fox gave the New York City Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Fox.

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

Agency

Department New York City Police Department

Location New York, NY

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

Service Record

End of Watch February 16, 1941

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 32

Badge Number 2196

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Not available

Patrolman Leon Fox 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 New York City Police Department, 382 of 1237 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 30.9% of this agency's fallen.

New York City Police Department

382

of 1,237 officers

30.9% Felonious

NY — Statewide

754

of 2,147 officers

35.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious