Roll of Honor
Incident
Roundsman Michael Keating died of heat exhaustion during the 1896 Eastern North America Heat Wave while on mounted patrol.
Roundsman Keating had reported for duty at 8:00 am and failed to return after his shift ended. A search was made for him after his saddle and horse were returned to the station house in the evening. His body was found the next day by a mushroom forager in Delafield Woods approximately 1,000 yards from Riverdale Avenue. A coroner's physician ruled the cause of death as sunstroke after an autopsy.
It was believed that Roundsman Keating had gone deep into the woods for shade to tie down his horse after feeling the effects of the heat. His horse managed to break away from its fastenings in the evening.
Roundsman Keating served with the New York Police Department for 16 years and was assigned to the Kingsbridge Station.
Effects of the 1896 Eastern North America Heat Wave on Law Enforcement The 1896 Eastern North America Heat Wave was a 10-day heat wave that stretched from Chicago to New York and New England. There were 10 days and nights with temperatures above 90 °F (32 °C), 90 percent humidity, and little breeze. Approximately 1,500 people died as a direct result of the heat wave in August 1896.View all officers who died during the 1896 Eastern North America Heat Wave
View all officers who died during the 1896 Eastern North America Heat Wave
Effects of the 1896 Eastern North America Heat Wave on Law Enforcement
The 1896 Eastern North America Heat Wave was a 10-day heat wave that stretched from Chicago to New York and New England. There were 10 days and nights with temperatures above 90 °F (32 °C), 90 percent humidity, and little breeze. Approximately 1,500 people died as a direct result of the heat wave in August 1896.
Looking to Honor all the LOD Officers, Trying to Locate this Officers Grave. Any help to Identify and Locate this Heros Grave in Calvary Cemetery would be Very Much Appreciated.
Retired Lt Bill Markowski
Lt William Markowski NYPD July 8th, 2025
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-52BFBD72- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Michael. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
130 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Roundsman Keating gave the New York Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Roundsman Michael E. Keating 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Michael E. Keating's cause is highlighted.
How Michael E. Keating Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Michael E. Keating is highlighted in Aug.
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.
