Roll of Honor
Anthony Oswald McLean
Incident
Police Officer Anthony McLean was shot and killed while checking a building. He and his partner were assigned to check four buildings for a young girl who had been reported missing. At approximately 1:00 am, Officer McLean entered a building to conduct a search. While searching one of the stairwells, Officer McLean interrupted criminal activity on the second floor. One of the men involved opened fire on Officer McLean, striking him in the neck, just above his vest. Officer McLean was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries approximately two hours later. The missing girl turned up at another family member's home. The suspect was apprehended a month later in Philadelphia. In 1989, he was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to a minimum of 120 years in prison. At the time of the incident, he was out on parole for another murder he had committed in 1979. Officer McLean was a United States Army veteran of elite special forces and had served with the New York City Housing Authority Police Department for 2 years and nine months.
Survivors
He was survived by his fiancée, parents, and four brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-1EF919BD- 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 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 McLean gave the New York City Housing Authority Police Department 2 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Anthony Oswald McLean served in the Army (1977â1980) before joining law enforcement.
Police Officer Anthony Oswald McLean 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 Housing Authority Police Department, 13 of 19 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 68.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Anthony Oswald McLean's cause is highlighted.
How Anthony Oswald McLean Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 120 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Anthony Oswald McLean is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Anthony Oswald McLean was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
18 officers from New York City Housing Authority Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
