Roy A. Donivan

New York State Police — Albany, NY

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch October 8, 1923

Age 27

The Vigil Panel 46 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 170

Incident

Trooper Roy Donivan was shot and killed while he and three other plainclothes officers patrolled Saratoga-Albany Road (current-day Route 9) in Wilton, Saratoga County, after a rash of robberies. They were flagged down by a man who, with two other men, attempted to rob them. A gunfight ensued in which Trooper Donivan was fatally wounded. The suspects were apprehended following his murder. One suspect was convicted of manslaughter, and another was acquitted. Trooper Donivan was a United States Army World War I veteran and had been assigned to Troop G.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two sons, his parents, a brother, and four sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-69E9E6C8
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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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.
Trooper Donivan served with the New York State Police.
Thank you for your service to the people of New York, 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 State Police

Type State Police

Location Albany, NY

Platform Identity nysp.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 8, 1923

Age 27

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

Military Service

Roy A. Donivan served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Trooper Roy A. Donivan 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 State Police, 29 of 171 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 17% of this agency's fallen.

New York State Police

of 171 officers

17% Felonious

NY — Statewide

728

of 2,147 officers

33.9% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious