Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer DeRosa was accidentally shot and killed by another officer. Officers were called to a report of an assault in North Amityville. Officer DeRosa was in one of three patrol cars that responded to the call. The first two officers on the scene observed the vehicle containing the suspect, coming down the street and ordered it to halt. Officer DeRosa's car was behind the suspect’s vehicle. The suspect’s vehicle then lurched forward and one officer jumped backward, discharging his shotgun. The shot missed the suspect’s vehicle but struck Officer DeRosa in the chest, killing him. The suspect was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment first-degree and assault second-degree.
Survivors
Officer DeRosa had been with the agency for six years and was survived by his wife and two young sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-2BC1349D- 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 DeRosa gave the Suffolk County Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Yaphank community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer DeRosa.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer William DeRosa is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NY, 645 of 2,147 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Suffolk County Police Department, 10 of 27 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 37% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William DeRosa's cause is highlighted.
How William DeRosa Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. William DeRosa is highlighted in Jan.
Others Who Wore This Badge
26 officers from Suffolk County Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
