Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Neil Forster died of the injuries he sustained one year earlier when he was struck by a vehicle being operated by an intoxicated driver.
Officer Forster and his partner responded to an automobile accident on the Major Deegan Expressway, near West 230th Street, in the Bronx. When they arrived at the scene, the officers decided to layout flares to divert traffic off the expressway. Almost immediately after exiting his patrol car, Officer Forster and his patrol car were struck from behind by a vehicle being operated by an intoxicated man.
Officer Forster was thrown approximately fifty feet and received serious injuries. Due to his injuries, his right leg had to be amputated.
In June 1997, Officer Forster received the New York City Police Department's Purple Shield Medal.
One year after the accident, Officer Forster became seriously ill due to his injuries and died.
Officer Forester had served with the New York City Police Department for 2-1/2 years and was assigned to the 50th Precinct.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and infant son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-FA513F93- 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.
Police Officer Forster gave the New York City Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Forster.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Neil A. Forster is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 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 1 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At New York City Police Department, 283 of 1237 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 22.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Neil A. Forster's cause is highlighted.
How Neil A. Forster Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Neil A. Forster is highlighted in Dec.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1,236 officers from New York City Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
