Horace L. Ford
Agency patch
Detective

Horace L. Ford

Felonious
End of Watch November 6, 1978
Age 39
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Badge 3187
The Vigil Panel 120 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Horace L. Ford was born in Fairmont, North Carolina. A 12-year member of the New York City Police Department assigned to the Street Crime Unit, he had made more than 200 arrests and received two commendations for outstanding bravery and 24 other medals.

On 6 November 1978, while off duty, Detective Ford was working as a teller at a Manufacturers Hanover Bank branch at 41-01 Kissena Boulevard in Flushing, Queens. At about 10:45 a.m., an armed robber, David Robinson, 29, jumped over the counter near him. Detective Ford moved to protect a nearby teller, identified himself as a police officer and ordered the man to freeze. The robber opened fire and the two men exchanged shots. Though hit several times and mortally wounded, Detective Ford kept firing. The robber fled and died of his wounds in the street outside. Detective Ford was taken to Booth Memorial Hospital and died during surgery at about 2:00 p.m.

He was 39 years old. He was survived by his wife, Nancy, his daughter, Melodi, his parents, two brothers and five sisters. Thousands attended his Inspector's funeral at Bethany Baptist Church in Jamaica, Queens. He was buried in Fairmont, North Carolina, and more than 40 of his Street Crime colleagues traveled there for the burial.

On Medal Day, 12 June 1979, he was posthumously awarded the department's highest honor, the Medal of Honor. In 2016 a police dog assigned to the Counterterrorism Division was named "Ford" in his honor.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and daughter.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Ford gave the New York City Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Ford.

— 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 November 6, 1978
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Age 39
Badge Number 3187
Gender Male
Assignment Street Crime Unit

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Horace 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.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

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
II

Who

Horace was 39. 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. Horace had served 12 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 8.1% 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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective Horace L. Ford

New York City Police Department · End of Watch November 6, 1978

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 62-E

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