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Police Officer

Seraphin Calabrese

New York City Transit Police Department — New York, NY

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch February 24, 1980

Age 34

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

Badge 3123

The Vigil Panel 122 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 13

Incident

Police Officer Seraphin Calabrese was shot and killed with his own weapon while attempting to arrest a fare evader at the Columbus Circle subway station. The fare was only 50 cents. The suspect immediately grabbed Officer Calabrese's gun and shot him. Another nearby transit officer apprehended the suspect. On January 20. 1981, the suspect, 29, was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 15 years to life. He died in prison on December 24, 2021. Officer Irving Smith was shot and killed five days later while attempting to take action during a robbery of a bar. He and several other officers went to the bar following the funeral of Officer Calabrese. Officer Calabrese was a United States Army veteran and had served with the New York City Transit Police Department, assigned to Transit District 1.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, daughter, and stepdaughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-0C41C5A1
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 — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Seraphin 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.
Police Officer Calabrese gave the New York City Transit Police Department 9 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 Transit Police Department

Type Police Department

Location New York, NY

Platform Identity nyttp.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 24, 1980

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

Age 34

Badge Number 3123

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Military Service

Seraphin Calabrese served in the U.S. Army (1966â1968) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Police Officer Seraphin Calabrese 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 Transit Police Department, 11 of 14 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 78.6% of this agency's fallen.

New York City Transit Police Department

of 14 officers

78.6% Felonious

NY — Statewide

728

of 2,147 officers

33.9% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious