Patrick M. Canavan
Agency patch
Probationary Patrolman

Patrick M. Canavan

Felonious
End of Watch September 7, 1970
Age 21
Tour of Duty 2 mo
Badge 13330
The Vigil Panel 107 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Probationary Patrolman Patrick Canavan was stabbed to death when he attempted to break up a street fight in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn while off duty. Patrolman Canavan observed a large fight in the street on the corner of 3rd Avenue and 88th Street and attempted to break it up. He was stabbed in the stomach with a 12-inch hunting knife while attempting to separate two men. He died at Lutheran Medical Center while doctors were preparing for emergency surgery in an attempt to save his life. Two suspects were apprehended and pleaded guilty to his murder. On September 28, 1971, the suspect, 21, who stabbed Patrolman Canavan, was sentenced to 15 years to life, and the other suspect, 20, who supplied the knife, was sentenced to 5 years probation. The killer was paroled on October 2, 1989. Patrolman Canavan had served with the New York City Police Department for only 2 months and was assigned to the Police Academy.

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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Probationary Patrolman Canavan served with the New York City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Probationary Patrolman Canavan.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location New York, NY
Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 7, 1970
Tour of Duty 2 mo
Age 21
Badge Number 13330
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Edged weapon

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Patrick is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1970, 138 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 29th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Patrick was 21. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Patrick had served 0.2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon, in 2.2% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

New York City Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Patrick among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Probationary Patrolman Patrick M. Canavan

New York City Police Department · End of Watch September 7, 1970

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 27-E

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