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Joseph P. McBreen
Agency patch
Patrolman

Joseph P. McBreen

New York City Police Department — New York, NY
Accident
United States flag New York flag
End of Watch August 11, 1937
Age 36
Badge 16291
The Vigil Panel 73 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 1,221

Incident

Patrolman McBreen was killed while attempting to rescue 21 people, including a child from a six-family tenement on New Street (now Jersey Street, site of the Richmond Terrace Houses, New Brighton, Staten Island) that had been flooded by heavy rain. When Patrolman McBreen entered the building from a window, the building collapsed, killing Patrolman McBreen and 18 civilians. Patrolman McBreen was a member of Emergency Services Squad #10, based on Staten Island.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three 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.
Patrolman McBreen served with the New York City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman McBreen.

— 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 August 11, 1937
Age 36
Badge Number 16291
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.

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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 36. 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.

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

When

August holds 9.5% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. 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 City Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Joseph among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Joseph P. McBreen

New York City Police Department · End of Watch August 11, 1937

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 45-E

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