Joseph L. Fitzpatrick
Agency patch
Sergeant

Joseph L. Fitzpatrick

New York State Police — Albany, NY
Accident
End of Watch November 17, 1937
Age 35
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
The Vigil Panel 73 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Joseph Fitzpatrick was killed in a vehicle crash while searching for three escapees from the Onondaga County Penitentiary (current-day Jamesville Correctional Facility). While traveling on Cherry Valley Turnpike (current-day New York Interstate 20), the driver lost control of their patrol vehicle while going around a sharp curve. The car overturned and went off a 12-foot embankment. Sergeant Fitzpatrick was killed instantly. The trooper suffered minor injuries. Sergeant Fitzpatrick and the Trooper, who was driving, had been checking cars at a road checkpoint for over 48 hours while searching for the escaped felons. All three felons were apprehended. Sergeant Fitzpatrick had served with the New York State Police for 11 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three young children.

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.
Sergeant Fitzpatrick gave the New York State Police 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of New York. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Fitzpatrick.

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

Agency

Type State Police
Location Albany, Albany County, NY
Platform Identity nysp.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 17, 1937
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Age 35
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Joseph is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 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 1937, 95 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 10th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Joseph was 35. 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. Joseph had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

November holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

New York State Police has at least 120 officers remembered here, Joseph among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Sergeant Joseph L. Fitzpatrick

New York State Police · End of Watch November 17, 1937

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 39-E

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