Incident
Sheriff Paul Stier was shot and killed as he attempted to evict a squatter from a house near the intersection of 20th Street and 14th Avenue (modern-day 154th Street and 12th Avenue) in Whitestone.
Sheriff Stier and a patrolman from the New York City Police Department went to the house to evict the suspect and arrest him on a warrant. When Sheriff Stier and the Patrolmen entered the location, the suspect had a double-barreled shotgun. When Sheriff Stier ordered the suspect to drop the gun, the suspect fired killing Sheriff Stier and wounding the Patrolmen.
The suspect then fled to the roof of the house with his rifle. Reserve officers were called in from the Flushing Station and three more Patrolmen from the New York City Police Department were wounded before the suspect was shot and killed.
Sheriff Steir had served as the Sheriff of Queens County for one year.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-7DEBCDB2- 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 barely got started.
Sheriff Stier gave the Queens County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Bronx community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Stier.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Paul Stier 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 Queens County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Paul Stier's cause is highlighted.
How Paul Stier Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Paul Stier is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Paul Stier was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Queens County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.