Roll of Honor

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Police Officer

Melvin E. Hopkins

New York City Police Department — New York, NY

Veteran → Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch September 15, 1979

Age 39

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Badge 25923

The Vigil Panel 122 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 1,236

Incident

Police Officer Melvin Hopkins was shot and killed while taking action during a robbery at the intersection of Nostrand Avenue and Atlantic Avenue, in Bedford-Stuyvesant, while off duty. Officer Hopkins was waiting in front of a liquor store owned by his uncle as the store closed for the night. A man attempted to gain entry, and Officer Hopkins told the man the store was closed. The man then produced a handgun. Officer Hopkins and the suspect exchanged shots, and Officer Hopkins was mortally wounded. As Officer Hopkins lay wounded on the ground, the suspect stole his service weapon and fled. Earlier Officer Hopkins assisted the bartender of a bar across the street eject the suspect along with sever other troublemakers who were with the suspect when he shot Officer Hopkins. The suspect, 21, was apprehended several days later and charged with murder. On July 8, 1980, he was convicted of murder and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. He was paroled on December 26, 2019. Officer Hopkins had served with the New York City Police Department for ten years and was assigned to the 77th Precinct. He had previously served three tours of duty with the United States Army in Vietnam.

Survivors

Officer Hopkins was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-568F2EE6
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. Army, salute.nw. One record, 3 gates. Melvin 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.
Police Officer Hopkins gave the New York City Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York 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

Department New York City Police Department

Type Police Department

Location New York, NY

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

Service Record

End of Watch September 15, 1979

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 39

Badge Number 25923

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Military Service

Melvin E. Hopkins served in the U.S. Army (1966â1969) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Police Officer Melvin E. Hopkins is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.

In NY, 728 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.9% of this state's fallen. That is 33.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At New York City Police Department, 365 of 1237 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 29.5% of this agency's fallen.

New York City Police Department

365

of 1,237 officers

29.5% Felonious

NY — Statewide

728

of 2,147 officers

33.9% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious