Luke Joseph Fallon
Agency patch
Detective

Luke Joseph Fallon

Felonious
End of Watch May 18, 1962
Age 55
Tour of Duty 25 yrs
Badge 489
The Vigil Panel 97 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Luke Fallon and Detective John Finnegan were shot and killed during a robbery call. Detectives Fallon and Finnigan were on patrol duty when they learned of a robbery at a tobacco shop at 1167 48th Street, Brooklyn. As they entered the shop, they were met by gunfire from the guns of three suspects who were in the middle of robbing the store. Both Detective Fallon and Detective Finnegan were killed instantly. The suspects fled but were all later apprehended. One suspect was acquitted. The other two suspects were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. Their death sentences were commuted to life in prison by Governor Rockefeller in 1966. One suspect died in prison, and the second was the state's longest-held prisoner until his death in 2009. Detective Fallon had served with the New York City Police Department for 25 years. Both detectives were assigned to the 70th Detective Squad.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-DE6135C4
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Luke. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

25 years. You could have gone home.
Detective Fallon gave the New York City Police Department 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Fallon.

— 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 May 18, 1962
Tour of Duty 25 yrs
Age 55
Badge Number 489
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Both died in prison

Detective Luke Joseph Fallon 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. Luke Joseph Fallon'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 Luke Joseph Fallon Compares

Age at End of Watch
55
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
25
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Both died in prison

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Luke Joseph Fallon is highlighted in May.

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. Luke Joseph Fallon was killed by gun; unknown type.

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

Incident Location