Donald Rolker

New York City Police Department — New York, NY

Felonious

End of Watch November 28, 1963

Age 43

Badge 18

The Vigil Panel 99 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1,236

Incident

Detective Donald Rolker was shot and killed while off duty by four men who tried to rob him on a subway train in Brooklyn. Detective Rolker was off-duty and on a subway train when four men tried to rob him at gunpoint. Detective Rolker returned fire, hitting one of the suspects in the leg. The four perpetrators fled from the subway to the street, where they shot and critically wounded a cab driver as they attempted to hijack his taxicab. The sound of the gunshot attracted several officers. They arrested the wounded perpetrator near the scene. The other perpetrators were apprehended a few hours later. Three of the perpetrators, ages 17,18 and 19, were convicted of felony murder. One of the perpetrators was released from prison in 1983, and the other two were released in 1984. Detective Rolker was assigned to the 18th Detective Squad, now known as the Midtown North Squad. The Midtown North Squad room was dedicated in his honor.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-12CA1060
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Rolker served with the New York City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Rolker.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department New York City Police Department

Type Police Department

Location New York, NY

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

Service Record

End of Watch November 28, 1963

Age 43

Badge Number 18

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Detective Donald Rolker 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 97,756 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.

New York City Police Department

365

of 1,237 officers

29.5% Felonious

NY — Statewide

728

of 2,147 officers

33.9% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,756 officers

0% Felonious