Thomas Schimenti, Jr.

New York City Police Department — New York, NY

Felonious

End of Watch August 17, 1979

Age 36

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

Badge 26481

The Vigil Panel 121 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1,236

Incident

Police Officer Thomas Schimenti was shot and killed following a foot chase with a bank robbery suspect. Officer Schimenti was walking his beat when he was flagged down by a woman who told him that a man in a gorilla mask was robbing a bank at 100 Park Avenue. As Officer Schimenti turned toward the bank, he observed the suspect exit and begin to flee north on Park Avenue on foot. Officer Schimenti began to chase the suspect and radioed for assistance. As Officer Schimenti was chasing the suspect, two detectives who were in the area observed the chase and joined in. They chased the suspect to the front of Grand Central Terminal, where the suspect turned and opened fire. Officer Schimenti was struck and killed, and one of the detectives was wounded. The suspect was wounded once and fled. He was apprehended by the second detective, who found him hiding under a car one block away. On March 3, 1980, the suspect, 37, escaped with three other inmates from Rikers Island Prison, where he was being held for Officer Schimenti's murder. They stole a corrections officer's car that was found abandoned near Kennedy Airport the next day. Three were captured. Officer Schimenti's killer remains at large. Officer Schimenti had served with the New York City Police Department for 12 years and was assigned to the Midtown South Precinct. He was survived by his wife and two children. On August 17th, 1988, a popular street corner on Staten Island was renamed in Officer Schimenti's honor.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-7DCEC7DE
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
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.
Police Officer Schimenti gave the New York City Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Schimenti.

— 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 August 17, 1979

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

Age 36

Badge Number 26481

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .380 caliber

Offender At large

Police Officer Thomas Schimenti, Jr. 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