Omar J. Edwards

New York City Police Department — New York, NY

Accident

End of Watch May 28, 2009

Age 25

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 158 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1,236

Incident

Detective Omar Edwards was shot and killed in a case of mistaken identity while attempting to arrest a man who he caught breaking into his car.

Detective Edwards, who was in plainclothes, had just finished his shift and was returning to his personal vehicle when he observed a man going through the vehicle and attempted to arrest him. The man broke free and fled on foot as Officer Edward chased him with his gun drawn.

Three officers driving by observed Officer Edwards chasing the suspect and made a U-turn to follow them. One of the officers exited the patrol car and opened fire, striking Officer Edwards.

He was transported to Harlem Hospital Center where he succumbed to his wounds.

Detective Edwards had served with the New York City Police Department for two years and was assigned to the Housing Bureau Impact Response Team. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Detective.

Survivors

Detective Edwards is survived by his wife and two young children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-3C52EDE1
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.
Detective Edwards gave the New York City Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Edwards.

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

Agency

Department New York City Police Department

Location New York, NY

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

Service Record

End of Watch May 28, 2009

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 25

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Detective Omar J. Edwards 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 New York City Police Department, 283 of 1237 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 22.9% of this agency's fallen.

New York City Police Department

283

of 1,237 officers

22.9% Accident

NY — Statewide

645

of 2,147 officers

30% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers

31% Accident