Michael Sean Curtin
Agency patch
Sergeant

Michael Sean Curtin

Felonious Veteran
End of Watch September 11, 2001
Age 45
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
Badge 3256
The Vigil Panel 149 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Michael Curtin was killed in the September 11th, 2001, terrorist attacks while attempting to rescue the victims trapped in the World Trade Center.

Sergeant Curtin was a United States Marine Corps veteran of Operation Desert Storm. He had served with the New York City Police Department for 13 years and was assigned to ESU Truck 2.

September 11, 2001

Sergeant Michael Sean Curtin was killed at the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11, 2001. He was 45 years old.

He is one of 72 officers honored here, and one of 23 at New York City Police Department.

Seventy-two law enforcement officers from eight local, state, and federal agencies were killed at the World Trade Center on the morning of September 11, 2001, alongside 343 members of the New York City Fire Department and more than 2,800 civilians. A fourth aircraft went down in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where a law enforcement officer aboard was among the dead.

Officers went into the towers while everyone else was coming out. More than 25,000 people reached safety because they did.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, three daughters, and brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-6A7B09F1
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

You went in while everyone else was coming out.
Sergeant Curtin gave the New York City Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Curtin.

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

Agency

Location New York, NY
Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 11, 2001
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
Age 45
Badge Number 3256
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Aircraft; Passenger jet
Offender 19 suicide attackers

Military Service

Michael Sean Curtin served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Sergeant Michael Sean Curtin 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.

New York City Police Department
382
of 1,237 officers
30.9% Felonious
NY — Statewide
754
of 2,147 officers
35.1% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Michael Sean Curtin's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Michael Sean Curtin Compares

Age at End of Watch
45
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
13
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

19 suicide attackers

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Michael Sean Curtin is highlighted in Sep.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Michael Sean Curtin was killed by aircraft; passenger jet.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location