Prev Next

Police Officer

Norman R. Cerullo

New York City Police Department — New York, NY

Felonious

End of Watch April 2, 1978

Age 29

Badge 19704

The Vigil Panel 262 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 1,221

Incident

Police Officer Norman Cerullo and Police Officer Christie D. Masone were shot and killed after stopping two suspicious men in front of 660 Willoughby Street, Brooklyn. Officer Cerullo exited the patrol car and spoke to one suspect, while Officer Masone spoke to the other suspect while still seated in the patrol car. After Officer Cerullo had finished speaking to one suspect, he re-entered the patrol car. Officer Masone suddenly exited the vehicle and began to struggle with the one suspect. This suspect then drew a 9 mm handgun from his clothes and began firing at Officer Masone. Officer Cerullo exited the patrol car and began firing at the second suspect. When the gunfire stopped, Officer Masone lay dead. Officer Cerullo was mortally wounded, and one suspect was dead. The suspect that had been struggling with Officer Masone was struck twice in the legs but was able to get to his car and escape the scene. He was able to travel eight blocks before crashing into a parked car at Summer Avenue (Marcus Garvey Boulevard) and Lexington Avenue. An off-duty officer en route to the hospital to offer assistance to the fallen officers noticed the accident but did not connect it to the shooting. When he arrived at the hospital and was informed of the circumstances of the shooting, he took three uniformed officers, returned to the accident scene, and arrested the suspect. The arrested suspect was later discovered to be in possession of a loaded .22 Derringer pistol in addition to the 9 mm he used to kill both officers. The suspect killed in the shootout was found to also be in possession of a loaded .22 Derringer pistol. The suspect that was arrested and charged with murder. Two trials ended in hung juries. The suspect was acquitted of all charges in the third trial. The suspect, who was on parole in Virginia, was sentenced to one year in prison in Virginia for parole violations in connection with this incident. The suspect is the same person who led a prison revolt at Attica Stat

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: neuraspine_01krbxtmqkjafm5064t167v5ff
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Cerullo 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, Police Officer Cerullo.

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

Agency

Department New York City Police Department

Type Police Department

Location New York, NY

Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 2, 1978

Age 29

Badge Number 19704

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1978, 121 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 43rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Norman was 29. 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.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded