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

Luke J. Fallon, whose father had also served in the department, joined the New York City Police Department in December 1936. He was cited for bravery in April 1939 and December 1940 for capturing two robbers, and in April 1946 for arresting an arsonist. He became a detective with the 70th Squad in Brooklyn, carrying shield 489.

On 18 May 1962 he and his partner, Detective John P. Finnegan, were on patrol when they learned of a robbery in progress at a tobacco and candy shop in Borough Park. As they entered the store they were met by a hail of gunfire. They fired back as they fell, and both were killed. Five suspects were rounded up within five days.

Detective Fallon was 55. He was given an Inspector's funeral, with a Requiem Mass at the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Brooklyn, and was buried in St. John's Cemetery in Middle Village on 22 May 1962. He was survived by his wife and their married daughter.

In Our Keeping

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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

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

Type Police Department
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
Assignment 70 Detective Squad

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Luke 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
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1962, 67 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 107th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Luke was 55. 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. Luke had served 25 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective Luke Joseph Fallon

New York City Police Department · End of Watch May 18, 1962

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 35-E

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