Otto W. Motz

New York City Police Department — New York, NY

Felonious

End of Watch January 19, 1922

Badge 5110

The Vigil Panel 42 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1,236

Incident

Patrolman Otto Motz was shot and killed by a prisoner inside the 37th Precinct station house (present-day 28th Precinct). Patrolman Motz was in the station house with a suspect he had arrested. He removed his coat and handed his revolver to another officer and entered the cell area to attend to his prisoner, who was being seen by a doctor. While in the cell area, another officer brought in a prisoner who was crazed. Patrolman Motz finished with his prisoner and was exiting the cell area. The officer that was holding his revolver began to hand it back to him, when the second prisoner jumped up, took hold of the gun, put it to the head of Patrolman Motz and fired. After killing Patrolman Motz, the prisoner attempted to open fire, but the revolver failed to fire. Officers ran from all over the station house to the cell area, where it took seven officers to subdue the suspect. The 31-year-old suspect was adjudged insane and committed at the Mattaewan Asylum for the criminally insane. On August 23, 1933, police in Jersey City arrested a man for creating a disturbance in the Holland Tunnel. In his pocket was a key to a safety deposit box at a bank in Orange, New Jersey. The box contained $12,000 in cash; a large amount at any given time but especially in the middle of a depression. The man would not identify himself or say how or where he got the money. His fingerprints revealed he was the man who killed Patrolman Motz. There was no record of his release or an escape from Mattaewan Asylum. Officials at Mattaewan were asked to explain but there is no more information that can be found. Patrolman Motz was assigned to the 38th Precinct, the present day 32nd Precinct. His wife and daughter survived him.

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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 Motz served with the New York City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Motz.

— 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 January 19, 1922

Badge Number 5110

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Committed

Patrolman Otto W. Motz 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