Roy A. Donivan

New York State Police — Albany, NY

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch October 8, 1923

Age 27

The Vigil Panel 46 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 170

Incident

Trooper Roy Donivan was shot and killed while he and three other plainclothes officers patrolled Saratoga-Albany Road (current-day Route 9) in Wilton, Saratoga County, after a rash of robberies. They were flagged down by a man who, with two other men, attempted to rob them. A gunfight ensued in which Trooper Donivan was fatally wounded. The suspects were apprehended following his murder. One suspect was convicted of manslaughter, and another was acquitted. Trooper Donivan was a United States Army World War I veteran and had been assigned to Troop G.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two sons, his parents, a brother, and four sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-69E9E6C8
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Trooper Donivan served with the New York State Police.
Thank you for your service to the people of New York, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department New York State Police

Location Albany, NY

Platform Identity nysp.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 8, 1923

Age 27

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Three suspects apprehended

Military Service

Roy A. Donivan served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Trooper Roy A. Donivan 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 State Police, 29 of 171 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 17% of this agency's fallen.

New York State Police

of 171 officers

17% Felonious

NY — Statewide

754

of 2,147 officers

35.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious