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Incident
Lieutenant John Dowd was killed in an automobile accident at the intersection of Demott Avenue and Grand Avenue while on his way to attend First Aid Training. He had served with the Nassau County Police Department for just under four years and previously served with the Glen Cove Police Department. He was survived by his wife, four children, his mother, and two sisters. He is buried at Saint Patrick Cemetary in Upper Brookville, Nassau County, New York.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, four children, his mother, and two sisters.
In Our Keeping
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- 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.
Lieutenant Dowd gave the Nassau County Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Mineola community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Dowd.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Nassau County Police Department has lost 51 officers; 21 of them lost to accidents.
John is one of 641 officers lost to accidents in NY, 30.1% of the 2,132 remembered there.
John is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
John is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1929, 1 officer at Nassau County Police Department was lost to accidents, the 5th heaviest of 17 years on record. The heaviest was 1932, with 2.
In 1929, 18 officers in NY were lost to accidents, the 3rd heaviest of 137 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 24.
In 1929, 118 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1929, 130 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 2nd heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
John was 37. Of the 21 lost to accidents at Nassau County Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 41; the middle age was 38. John had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
John was 37. Of the 575 lost to accidents in NY whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 44; the middle age was 37. John had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
John was 37. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. John had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
John was 37. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. John had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
April holds 4.8% of these deaths at Nassau County Police Department; February holds the most, 19%. Tuesdays: 4.8%.
April holds 7.2% of these deaths in NY; October holds the most, 10.3%. Tuesdays: 14.5%.
April holds 7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.
April holds 7% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Tuesdays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 41.2% of all 51 deaths at Nassau County Police Department, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30.1% of all 2,132 deaths in NY, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Nassau County Police Department has 51 officers remembered here, John among them.
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John A. Hahn
Sep 24, 1925
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John P. Dowd
Apr 30, 1929
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Fred S. Hirsch
May 6, 1931
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Alvin J. Borgwardt
Feb 25, 1932
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Milton E. Verity
Feb 25, 1932
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John Davis Kennedy
Jul 12, 1932
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Lawrence E. Duncan
Oct 12, 1935
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Arthur J. Klepper
Dec 3, 1937
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Alexander N. Benedict
Feb 3, 1939
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Charles H. Shaw
Sep 6, 1940
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David J. Murphy
Sep 9, 1942
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John E. West
Feb 4, 1946
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Adam Yulch
Jul 2, 1950
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William R. Sellers
May 19, 1954
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Joseph Sternberg
Aug 16, 1954
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Alfred J. Del Giorno
Dec 7, 1956
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John F. Daly
Oct 28, 1957
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Louis A. De Francesco
Nov 28, 1957
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Robert H. Pickwick
Aug 6, 1960
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Joseph L. Coote
Mar 22, 1961
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William Trofemuk
May 14, 1961
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Kathleen M. Reilly
Dec 25, 1967
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Richard B. Rose
Dec 29, 1971
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Matthew Francis Giglio
Dec 16, 1975
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George R. Kempen
Nov 14, 1976
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Michael J. Kavanagh
May 29, 1977
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Robert J. Harris
May 17, 1978
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Daniel J. Greer
Dec 16, 1979
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Gary R. Farley
Mar 7, 1993
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Peter Francis Curran
Apr 12, 2006
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Michael J. Califano
Feb 5, 2011
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Geoffrey J. Breitkopf
Mar 12, 2011
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Charles Dennis Cole, Jr.
Aug 14, 2011
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Robert D. Negri, Jr.
Sep 28, 2011
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Joseph Paul Olivieri, Jr.
Oct 18, 2012
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Arthur Lopez
Oct 23, 2012
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Peter Martino
Feb 5, 2014
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Michael J. Kearns
Jun 8, 2014
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Paul J. McCabe
Sep 25, 2015
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Brian R. Abbondandelo
Jul 28, 2016
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Michael P. Shea
Apr 1, 2017
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Steven Clifford
May 23, 2017
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James V. Quinn
Sep 18, 2017
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Billy Erdmann
Oct 7, 2019
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Erick W. Contreras
Jan 15, 2021
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Matthew Anthony Perlungher
Aug 4, 2021
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Charles C. Vroom
Sep 12, 2021
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Hector M. Nunez
Dec 8, 2021
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Christopher A. Cizmarik
Dec 27, 2023
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Kevin Canavan
Jun 30, 2024
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Philip J. Schifini
Nov 27, 2024
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 34-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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