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Patrolman

Nicholas Panico

New York City Police Department — New York, NY

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch August 31, 1962

Age 32

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Badge 21270

The Vigil Panel 97 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 1,236

Incident

Patrolman Nicholas Panico and Patrolman Robert Byrnes were shot and killed by a man who went on a shooting spree at Coney Island. The suspect had attempted to murder his former landlady and then ran outside and killed a woman sitting nearby. The suspect ran onto the Boardwalk at West 25th Street. He approached both officers from behind and shot them both in the back of their heads. Patrolman Panico was killed at the scene, and Patrolman Byrnes succumbed to his wounds at Coney Island Hospital four days later. The suspect continued shooting at other citizens, wounding three more people, including another patrolman, before being shot and killed by an Emergency Services officer. Patrolman Panico was a U.S Army Korean War veteran who had served with the New York City Police Department for six years, assigned to the 62nd Precinct.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-D9799E01
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. One record, 2 gates. Nicholas 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.
Patrolman Panico gave the New York City Police Department 6 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 August 31, 1962

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Age 32

Badge Number 21270

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Military Service

Nicholas Panico served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman Nicholas Panico 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 97,772 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 97,772 officers

0% Felonious