Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman McCaffrey was struck and killed by two fire trucks while on his traffic post. Patrolman McCaffrey was on traffic duty at the corner of Fourteenth Street and Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, when he heard firetrucks approaching. Patrolman McCaffrey stopped traffic in the intersection to allow the trucks to pass. As they approached, from opposite directions, Patrolman McCaffrey noticed that a collision between the two trucks was imminent, so he began to blow his whistle and wave his arms franticly, in an attempted to draw the attention of one of the fire truck drivers. Nether driver saw Patrolman McCaffrey and he was struck by both fire trucks and killed. Patrolman McCaffrey was awarded the New York City Police Department's Medal of Honor for his actions. Patrolman McCaffrey had served with the New York City Police Department for 19 years and was survived by his wife and three sons. He was assigned to Traffic Precinct A.
Survivors
Patrolman McCaffrey had served with the New York City Police Department for 19 years and was survived by his wife and three sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-EDA8B36B- 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 McCaffrey gave the New York City Police Department 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman McCaffrey.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman William Joseph McCaffrey 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Joseph McCaffrey's cause is highlighted.
How William Joseph McCaffrey Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. William Joseph McCaffrey is highlighted in Oct.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1,236 officers from New York City Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
