Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Troy Patterson succumbed to a gunshot wound he received on January 16, 1990.
Detective Patterson was washing his car at 5:20 p.m. on Jefferson Avenue in Brooklyn when three juveniles shot him in the head because he would not give them $20. He was transported to Kings County Hospital and never recovered. He remained in a vegetative state at a rehabilitation center in New Jersey until he died 33 years later.
Three subjects, ages 15, 17, and 20, were arrested, convicted and served prison time. The 20-year-old was sentenced to 5-15 years. The 15-year-old, believed to be the shooter, was tried as a juvenile and only served a few months in prison in New York, but he served 14 years in a South Carolina prison for a different felony.
Detective Patterson was promoted to Detective in 2016. He had served with the New York City Police Department for 40 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his son and grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-3A39CE93- 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
40 years. You could have gone home.
Detective Patterson gave the New York City Police Department 40 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Patterson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Troy David Patterson 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 Police Department, 365 of 1237 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 29.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Troy David Patterson's cause is highlighted.
How Troy David Patterson Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Troy David Patterson is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Troy David Patterson was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
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