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Walter DeGolyer
Agency patch
Patrolman

Walter DeGolyer

Peekskill Police Department — Peekskill, NY
Cardiac
United States flag New York flag
End of Watch November 11, 1939
Age 47
Tour of Duty 17 yrs
The Vigil Panel 76 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Patrolman Walter DeGolyer suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after struggling with a prisoner while placing the man in his cell. He was transported to a local hospital after collapsing, where he died two days later. Patrolman DeGolyer had served with the Peekskill Police Department for 17 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-74BD0BA5
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.
Patrolman DeGolyer gave the Peekskill Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Peekskill community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman DeGolyer.

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

Agency

Department Peekskill Police Department
Location Peekskill, NY
Platform Identity peekpd.westchester.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 11, 1939
Tour of Duty 17 yrs
Age 47
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac
Weapon Person
Offender Not available

Patrolman Walter DeGolyer is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In NY, 99 of 2,147 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 4.6% of this state's fallen. That is 0.6 percentage points above the national rate of 4%.

At Peekskill Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Peekskill Police Department
1
of 2 officers
50% Cardiac
NY — Statewide
99
of 2,147 officers
4.6% Cardiac
Nationwide
1,306
of 32,508 officers
4% Cardiac

National Cause Distribution

How Cardiac compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Walter DeGolyer'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 Walter DeGolyer Compares

Age at End of Watch
47
This officer
Avg for Cardiac: 48.6 years
Years of Service
17
This officer
Avg for Cardiac: 15.6 years

Offender Outcome

Not available

When Cardiac Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Cardiac deaths across the full memorial record. Walter DeGolyer is highlighted in Nov.

Jan
124
Feb
105
Mar
99
Apr
116
May
115
Jun
95
Jul
94
Aug
104
Sep
109
Oct
121
Nov
113
Dec
111

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Peekskill Police Department are honored on badge.nw.

Charles John Wassil, Jr.
Detective
Charles John Wassil, Jr.
May 1, 2013
Illness