Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Robert Fitzgerald was struck and killed by a trolly car in the Brooklyn Bridge. Patrolman Fitzgerald was on the Brooklyn Bridge when he was informed by a passerby that a man was running back and forth on the tracks, and that the man was attempting to commit suicide. Patrolman Fitzgerald spotted the suspect some distance from him near the Manhattan Anchorage tower. The man was climbing down one of the ladders that lead from the walkway to the tracks that were used by the elevated trains. Patrolman Fitzgerald followed the man. The man reached the elevated tracks and darted out on to the roadway alongside the tracks, squeezing through the ironwork that separated the area from the trolley tracks and the bridge roadway. Patrolman Fitzgerald saw the man start toward the guard rail at the side of the roadway, and he sprang down the ladder and tried to squeeze through the ironwork on the road. Patrolman Fitzgerald never saw the approaching trolley car, and the motorman did not see the Patrolman until it was too late to do anything. The front of the trolley car hit Patrolman Fitzgerald, forcing him back. He dropped through the trestle and down into the East River below. Responding officers were able to subdue the suicidal man and take him into custody. The Harbor Patrol immediately started a search for Patrolman Fitzgerald but was unsuccessful. His body was recovered on March 18, 1908. Patrolman Fitzgerald was assigned to the Bridge Precinct.
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BO-US-NY-A59F4F6B- Stewardship
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Fitzgerald 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 Fitzgerald.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Robert J. Fitzgerald is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 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 30 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
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. Robert J. Fitzgerald's cause is highlighted.
How Robert J. Fitzgerald Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Robert J. Fitzgerald is highlighted in Jan.
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.
