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Detective Sergeant

Bernardino Grottano

New York City Police Department — New York, NY

Felonious

End of Watch May 26, 1924

Age 42

Tour of Duty 17 yrs

Badge 267

The Vigil Panel 47 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Keepsakes Department 1,216

Incident

Detective Bernardino Grottano succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained as he attempted to capture an armed robbery suspect. At approximately 10:30 pm on May 19th, 1924, a patrolman on his beat observed that there was no store clerk behind the counter of the United Cigar Store on Fulton Street, Brooklyn. When the patrolman stopped to investigate, a man standing in front of the store drew a handgun and pointed it at the patrolman. The patrolman lunged at the suspect, who then fled on foot. During the chase, the suspect ran by Detective Grottano, who was standing at the corner of Fulton Street and Hanover Place. Detective Grottano attempted to apprehend the suspect but was unable to grab him. Detective Grottano joined the patrolman in the foot chase. During the chase, the suspect opened fire and Detective Grottano, and the patrolman returned fire. During the exchange, Detective Grottano was struck in the chest and fell to the ground, mortally wounded. As the chase continued, the suspect was also shot and killed. Detective Grottano was taken to Brooklyn Hospital where he died from his wounds seven days later. A second suspect, who was inside the cigar store, was apprehended several months later and charged with murder. Detective Grottano had served with the New York City Police Department for 17 years and was assigned to the 78th Precinct Detective Squad.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: NW-PHQM-HRGA-B earlier record number BO-US-NY-F3D626F9
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Sergeant Grottano gave the New York City Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sergeant Grottano.

— 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 May 26, 1924

Tour of Duty 17 yrs

Age 42

Badge Number 267

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Bernardino is one of 15,741 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.2% of the 27,543 remembered there.

33,910 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1924, 225 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Bernardino was 42. Of the 14,215 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Bernardino had served 17 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%. Mondays: 13.8%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.2% of all 27,543 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded