Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer David Willis was killed in an automobile crash at the intersection of 11th Avenue and West 30th Street while responding to a call of shots fired at 9:45 a.m. En route to the scene at West 28th Street between 9th and 10th Avenue., Officer Willis' patrol car was struck by a U.S. Postal Service truck. Upon impact, Officer Willis was ejected from the vehicle. The patrol car spun around, and before coming to a stop, it mounted the sidewalk and struck a protective pole surrounding a fire alarm box, the base of a street light, and the side of a building. Officer Willis was rushed to St. Vincent’s Hospital in critical condition. He died two days later from injuries sustained in the collision. Officer Willis had served with the New York City Police Department for four years and was assigned to the 10th Precinct. He is survived by his two children. In 1996, Officer Willis was posthumously awarded the New York City Police Department's Purple Shield Medal.
Survivors
He is survived by his two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-6231C59D- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew David. 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Willis gave the New York City Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Willis.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer David A. Willis is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 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 30 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
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. David A. Willis's cause is highlighted.
How David A. Willis Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. David A. Willis is highlighted in Sep.
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.
