Michael W. Paolillo
Agency patch
Patrolman

Michael W. Paolillo

Felonious
End of Watch September 23, 1970
Age 23
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Badge 4063
The Vigil Panel 107 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Michael Paolillo was stabbed to death when he attempted to question a suspect at 3040 Cruger Avenue. Patrolman Paolillo was off-duty and talking with a friend inside a gun shop around 11:15 a.m. when a man entered and asked if he could have the grips on the gun adjusted. The store owner told him he could repair the gun, so the suspect took the .25-caliber revolver from a paper bag and gave it to the owner. As soon as the owner asked for identification, the subject took the gun back and left the store. Suspicious that the man did not have a license for the gun, Patrolman Paolillo followed the man out of the store and began to question him. While he was being questioned, the subject pulled out a knife and stabbed Patrolman Paolillo 17 times in the chest. The subject then stole Patrolman Paolillo's service weapon and fled from the location. On August 19, 1971, a suspect, 24, was arrested in the Bronx and charged with murder. On December 1, 1972, he was convicted of murder and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. He died in prison on August 7, 2014. Patrolman Paolillo had served with the New York City Police Department for two years and was assigned to the 42nd Precinct.

Survivors

He was survived by his parents, two brothers, and two sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
NW-RVD1-BSXG-H earlier record number BO-US-NY-E380C617
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
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 Paolillo gave the New York City Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Paolillo.

— 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 September 23, 1970
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 23
Badge Number 4063
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Edged weapon

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Michael 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.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1970, 138 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 29th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Michael was 23. 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. Michael had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.2% of all 27,543 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon, in 2.2% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Michael W. Paolillo

New York City Police Department · End of Watch September 23, 1970

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 20-W

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