Michael F. McNeil, Jr.

Albany Police Department — Albany, NY

Felonious

End of Watch November 29, 1971

Age 43

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

The Vigil Panel 109 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 11

Incident

Sergeant Michael McNeil was shot and killed while questioning a member of a motorcycle gang. Sergeant McNeil was driving a police matron home when he witnessed a car travel through a red light. The vehicle matched the description of a car used in an armed robbery in the next town. After stopping the vehicle, Sergeant McNeil noticed a discrepancy with the registration, so he ordered the occupants of the car to follow him back to his station. He brought the driver inside to question him. When he went back outside to question the passengers, he found they had escaped. Sergeant McNeil called for backup and started to search for the remaining occupants of the car. He found one of the suspects on Chestnut Street, and he ordered him into the patrol car. As Sergeant McNeil got back into the patrol car, the suspect shot him twice, killing him instantly. The suspect escaped but was captured later in the morning in a neighboring city. The suspect was out on $50,000 bail for an assault in Connecticut and was also wanted for a separate murder. He was convicted of Sergeant McNeil's murder and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. He died in prison while serving his sentence. Sergeant McNeil had served with the Albany Police Department for 14 years. He was survived by his wife, daughter, three sons, and two brothers. One of the brothers also served as an Albany police officer.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, daughter, three sons, and two brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-3BFC6CE6
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.
Sergeant McNeil gave the Albany Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Albany community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant McNeil.

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

Agency

Department Albany Police Department

Location Albany, NY

Platform Identity apd.albany.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 29, 1971

Tour of Duty 14 yrs

Age 43

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; Luger

Offender Sentenced 25 to life

Sergeant Michael F. McNeil, Jr. 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 Albany Police Department, 6 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Albany Police Department

of 12 officers

50% Felonious

NY — Statewide

754

of 2,147 officers

35.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious