Roll of Honor
Incident
Trooper David Brinkerhoff was accidentally shot and killed by another officer during an intense gun battle while taking part in a manhunt for an assailant who had shot and wounded a New York State Trooper the previous day.
On April 24, 2007, a New York State Trooper stopped a stolen vehicle at the Sunoco Country Store located on Main Street in Margaretville. As he approached the vehicle, the suspect opened fire, striking the trooper on his vest and then fleeing into the woods. Members of the New York State Police, Delaware County Sheriff's Department, and several other surrounding agencies mobilized to search for the suspect.
The following day, Trooper Brinkerhoff and six members of the Mobile Response Team were searching for the suspect in a home on Cemetery Road in Margaretville after a burglar alarm signal was received by local police. Trooper Brinkerhoff and another trooper entered a room on the second floor of the home when the suspect opened fire, striking him in the chest. That round was deflected by his bullet-resistant vest. An intense, close-quarters gun battle ensued between the suspect and four troopers. During that exchange of gunfire, one trooper was wounded by the suspect, and Trooper Brinkerhoff was accidentally shot and killed by another trooper. The remaining troopers pulled their fellow officers to safety and withdrew from the house.
Police surrounded the home, and after a nine-and-a-half-hour standoff, police again approached the home, firing tear gas. As they gained entry, the house began to burn, and within minutes was fully engulfed in flames. Police were unable to gain entry into the home due to the fire. After extinguishing the fire, officers found that the suspect has been fatally wounded by Trooper Brinkerhoff in the earlier gun battle and had died.
Trooper Brinkerhoff had served with the New York State Police for 8 1/2 years and was assigned to the Mobile Response Team.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and seven-month-old daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-60C21D5F- 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.
Trooper Brinkerhoff gave the New York State Police 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of New York. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Brinkerhoff.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Trooper David Brinkerhoff 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 State Police, 94 of 171 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 55% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. David Brinkerhoff's cause is highlighted.
How David Brinkerhoff Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. David Brinkerhoff is highlighted in Apr.
Others Who Wore This Badge
170 officers from New York State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
