Thomas Francis Gaffney
Agency patch
Patrolman

Thomas Francis Gaffney

Accident
End of Watch March 2, 1924
Age 46
Tour of Duty 18 yrs
Badge 5573
The Vigil Panel 46 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Thomas Gaffney was killed while he and another officer were assisting a motorist with a stalled car on the Manhattan Bridge. The stalled car was struck by a passing vehicle, throwing it into Patrolman Gaffney. Patrolman Gaffey had served with the New York City Police Department for 18 years and was assigned to the 26th Precinct. He was survived by his wife, three sons, and three daughters. He was assigned to the 26th Precinct.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, three sons, and three daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-B9F068D4
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 Gaffney gave the New York City Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Gaffney.

— 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 March 2, 1924
Tour of Duty 18 yrs
Age 46
Badge Number 5573
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Patrolman Thomas Francis Gaffney is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 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 1 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.

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.

New York City Police Department
283
of 1,237 officers
22.9% Accident
NY — Statewide
645
of 2,147 officers
30% Accident
Nationwide
10,088
of 32,508 officers
31% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas Francis Gaffney'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 Thomas Francis Gaffney Compares

Age at End of Watch
46
This officer
Avg for Accident: 38.1 years
Years of Service
18
This officer
Avg for Accident: 9.1 years

When Accident Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas Francis Gaffney is highlighted in Mar.

Jan
820
Feb
730
Mar
748
Apr
707
May
847
Jun
795
Jul
897
Aug
937
Sep
913
Oct
925
Nov
872
Dec
897

Incident Location