Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Kelly was killed when his patrol car was struck by another vehicle at the intersection of Lexington Avenue and Fifty-Ninth Street in Manhattan.
Officer Kelly and his partner were traveling with lights and sirens on to a call of a hold-up in progress. The suspect’s vehicle never slowed for the patrol car and stuck it, killing Detective Kelly and injuring his partner, two other officers and a civilian who was standing on the sidewalk. The driver of the vehicle was arrested on a charge of suspicion of homicide.
Detective Kelly’s most outstanding feat in the time he was a Police Officer was that he once captured five burglars single-handed when he was a Patrolman in Manhattan.
Detective Kelly had been with the New York City Police Department for seven years and was survived by his wife and 2-year-old daughter.
Survivors
Detective Kelly had been with the New York City Police Department for seven years and was survived by his wife and 2-year-old daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-40687932- 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 Kelly gave the New York City Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Kelly.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Joseph A.C. Kelly 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 Police Department, 382 of 1237 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 30.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph A.C. Kelly's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph A.C. Kelly Compares
Offender Outcome
Arrested
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph A.C. Kelly is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph A.C. Kelly was killed by automobile.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1,236 officers from New York City Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
