Roll of Honor
Barry N. Sutherland
Incident
Parole Officer Barry Sutherland was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a parole violator in New York City. Officer Sutherland and two other parole officers got a tip that a parolee who had failed to appear, and had a warrant, was going to be at 16 East 42nd Street in Manhattan. The three officers waited in the lobby of the building for the suspect. When the suspect entered, he immediately recognized the parole officers and began to flee on foot. The suspect then drew a .32 caliber handgun and opened fire, killing Officer Sutherland and wounding a civilian. Because the lobby was crowded with civilians, the other parole officers did not return fire but instead tackled the suspect and placed him under arrest. The suspect, who was on parole for criminal possession of a weapon, was later convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. On May 30th, 1978, the suspect escaped from Sing Sing State Prison. He was shot and killed on June 20th, 1978, in a shootout with a New York City police officer after a team of officers from the New York Division of Parole and the New York City Police Department tracked the suspect to an apartment in East New York, Brooklyn. Officer Sutherland was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the New York State Division of Parole for four years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-35976891- 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.
Parole Officer Sutherland gave the New York State Division of Parole 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Albany 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
Barry N. Sutherland served in the Other (1967â1973) before joining law enforcement.
Parole Officer Barry N. Sutherland 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 State Division of Parole, 2 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Barry N. Sutherland's cause is highlighted.
How Barry N. Sutherland Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life; killed after escaping
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Barry N. Sutherland is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Barry N. Sutherland was killed by handgun; .32 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from New York State Division of Parole are honored on badge.nw.
