Prev Next
Christie D. Masone
Agency patch
Police Officer

Christie D. Masone

New York City Police Department — New York, NY
Felonious
United States flag New York flag
End of Watch April 2, 1978
Age 28
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Badge 12544
The Vigil Panel 119 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 1,221

Incident

Police Officer Christie Masone and Police Officer Norman Cerullo were shot and killed after stopping two suspicious men in front of 660 Willoughby Street, Brooklyn. Officer Cerullo exited the patrol car and spoke to one suspect, while Officer Masone talked to the other suspect, who was still seated in the patrol car. After Officer Cerullo had finished speaking to one suspect, he re-entered the patrol car. Officer Masone suddenly exited the vehicle and began to struggle with the one suspect. This suspect then drew a 9mm handgun from his clothes and began firing at Officer Masone. Officer Cerullo exited the patrol car and began firing at the second suspect. When the gunfire stopped, Officer Masone lay dead. Officer Cerullo was mortally wounded, and one suspect was dead. The suspect, who had been struggling with Officer Masone, was struck twice in the legs but was able to get to his car and escape the scene. He traveled eight blocks before crashing into a parked car at Sumner Avenue (Marcus Garvey Boulevard) and Lexington Avenue. An off-duty officer en route to the hospital to offer assistance to the fallen officers noticed the accident but did not connect it to the shooting. When he arrived at the hospital and was informed of the circumstances of the shooting, he took three uniformed officers, returned to the accident scene, and arrested the suspect. The arrested suspect was later discovered to be in possession of a loaded .22 Derringer pistol in addition to the 9 mm he used to kill both officers. The suspect who died in the shootout was also found to be in possession of a loaded .22 Derringer pistol. The suspect who was arrested was charged with murder. Two trials ended in hung juries. The suspect was acquitted of all charges in the third trial. The suspect, who was on parole in Virginia, was sentenced to one year in prison in Virginia for parole violations in connection with this incident. The suspect is the same person who led a prison revolt at Attica State Prison

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtn43fp0mdjrwv93encm5
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Christie. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Masone gave the New York City Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Masone.

— 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 April 2, 1978
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 28
Badge Number 12544
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Christie 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.

  3. See the roll
  4. 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

Christie was 28. 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. Christie had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.

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, Christie among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Christie D. Masone

New York City Police Department · End of Watch April 2, 1978

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 22-W

↑