Roll of Honor
Vivian A. Samuels-Benjamin
Incident
School Safety Agent Vivian Samuels-Benjamin suffered a fatal heart attack after being assaulted by a student at Intermediate School 390 in Brooklyn.
She was assigned to a school holiday dance at the school in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. As the students were entering, a 12-year-old suspect began to cause a disturbance. Agent Samuels-Benjamin approached the suspect to escort her from the building when the suspect struck Agent Samuels twice in the head, knocking her to the ground. Two other School Safety Agents rushed to assist Agent Samuels and were able to take the suspect into custody.
After the incident, Agent Samuels-Benjamin got up off the ground but collapsed just minutes later. She was taken to Kings County Hospital where she died.
The girl who assaulted Agent Samuels-Benjamin was charged with harassment and resisting arrest.
Agent Samuels-Benjamin had served with the New York City Police Department - Division of School Safety for 24 years.
Survivors
She is survived by two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-48DA3743- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Vivian. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
24 years. You could have gone home.
School Safety Agent Samuels-Benjamin gave the New York City Police Department 24 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, School Safety Agent Samuels-Benjamin.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
School Safety Agent Vivian A. Samuels-Benjamin is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NY, 99 of 2,147 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 4.6% of this state's fallen. That is 0.6 percentage points above the national rate of 4%.
At New York City Police Department - Division of School Safety, 2 of 2 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Cardiac compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Vivian A. Samuels-Benjamin's cause is highlighted.
How Vivian A. Samuels-Benjamin Compares
When Cardiac Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Cardiac deaths across the full memorial record. Vivian A. Samuels-Benjamin is highlighted in Dec.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from New York City Police Department - Division of School Safety are honored on badge.nw.
