Incident
Patrolman Howard Peterson suffered a brain aneurysm during a heated argument with several men. Patrolman Peterson was off-duty and with his two brother-in-laws when he observed a taxi cab being operated in a reckless manner and speeding on Kings Highway in Brooklyn. Patrolman Peterson motioned the driver to pull over, but the vehicle fled with Patrolman Peterson in pursuit. His brother-in-law was driving. The vehicle eventually stopped near the corner of West 21st Street and Mermaid Avenue in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn. The cab driver exited the vehicle and fled into a restaurant at the location. He exited several minutes later with a gang of 12 men, some whom Patrolman Peterson had arrested earlier for illegal gambling. A heated argument developed and some of the gang forced his two brother-in-laws back to their car. The next thing they noticed, as well as several witnesses, was Patrolman Peterson lying on the ground and the men running from the location. Patrolman Peterson was found to be unresponsive and transported to the Coney Island hospital where he never regained consciousness and died an hour later. Everyone including the police thought Patrolman Peterson had been beaten and thrown to the ground, and that is the way it was reported in local newspapers. His autopsy revealed there were no injuries and he had suffered a brain aneurysm and possibly fell to the ground. Several witnesses were interviewed and none could say with confidence that any of the suspects put their hands on him or kicked him. Patrolman Peterson had served with the New York City Police Department for 11 years and was assigned to the 66th Precinct.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and six children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- 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 Peterson gave the New York City Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Peterson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
New York City Police Department has lost 1,222 officers; 367 of them killed feloniously.
Howard is one of 739 officers killed feloniously in NY, 34.7% of the 2,132 remembered there.
Howard is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Howard is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1931, 10 officers at New York City Police Department were killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 111 years on record. The heaviest was 2001, with 23.
In 1931, 13 officers in NY were killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 154 years on record. The heaviest was 2001, with 32.
In 1931, 221 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1931, 222 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 9th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Howard was 35. Of the 348 killed feloniously at New York City Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 40; the middle age was 34. Howard had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Howard was 35. Of the 671 killed feloniously in NY whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 43; the middle age was 35. Howard had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Howard was 35. 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. Howard had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Howard was 35. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Howard had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
November holds 6.5% of these deaths at New York City Police Department; September holds the most, 14.2%. Sundays: 11.2%.
November holds 7.4% of these deaths in NY; September holds the most, 13.8%. Sundays: 13.5%.
November holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.
November holds 8.2% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 30% of all 1,222 deaths at New York City Police Department, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 34.7% of all 2,132 deaths in NY, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 3.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 1.8% of these deaths.
His people
New York City Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Howard among them.
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Philip Lambrecht Mar 14, 1872
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John J. Sherman Sep 1, 1891
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Robert Nichol May 1, 1892
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John J. Carey Nov 3, 1892
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Thomas Gleason Sep 5, 1893
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John T. Delehanty Sep 25, 1895
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John F. Haughney Aug 10, 1896
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William M. Lynam Aug 11, 1896
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Edward M. Tein Aug 11, 1896
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Michael E. Keating
Aug 12, 1896
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James J. Rogers Aug 15, 1896
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George Meehan Aug 20, 1896
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Thomas R. McIntyre Sep 23, 1896
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Oscar Reinhardt Apr 24, 1897
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Frederick Smith Oct 26, 1897
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Simon McDonnell Dec 7, 1897
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Frederick H. Lincoln Jan 18, 1898
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August Schneider Aug 26, 1898
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Henry Buschmann Oct 8, 1898
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Thomas Meagher Apr 27, 1899
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Robert J. Thorpe Aug 13, 1900
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Charles L. Horn Oct 8, 1900
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William Baumeister
Nov 30, 1900
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Thomas J. Fitzpatrick Jan 31, 1901
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Edward J. Mullen
Jan 31, 1901
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John E. Hoey
Oct 4, 1901
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John J. Sheridan
Jul 16, 1902
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Dennis Shea Nov 4, 1902
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John T. Collins Jan 19, 1903
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Frank J. Redican Dec 6, 1903
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Peter MacDonald Feb 12, 1904
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Francis P. Crowe Mar 8, 1904
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Hugh J. Enright Mar 20, 1904
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Charles J. Cameron
Jul 17, 1904
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James D. O'Connell Sep 14, 1904
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Patrick K. Cushing
Oct 28, 1904
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John Kavanaugh Nov 10, 1904
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James W. Devens Nov 25, 1904
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Charles Matthews Dec 12, 1904
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Ira D. Kinne Jan 17, 1905
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John Eagan Jan 30, 1905
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George M. Yeager Jul 3, 1905
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William J. Hedeman
Jul 29, 1906
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George Drake Misick
Nov 3, 1906
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Thomas F. Gallagher Feb 8, 1907
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George M. Sechler
Apr 14, 1907
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Alfred A. Selleck Apr 16, 1907
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Eugene M. Sheehan Oct 22, 1907
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Edward J. Kavanagh Nov 14, 1907
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Robert J. Fitzgerald
Jan 11, 1908
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John J. Rhatigan
Jan 22, 1908
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John Loughman Jan 27, 1908
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John Bresnahan
Apr 8, 1908
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Charles A. Berberich Nov 15, 1908
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John B. Goldhammer
Feb 19, 1909
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Thomas Smith Feb 27, 1909
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Giuseppe Petrosino
Mar 12, 1909
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Artemus L. Fish
May 18, 1909
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John W. McCormick
Jul 9, 1910
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James J. Mangan
Oct 26, 1910
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Michael Lynch
Jul 1, 1911
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William H. Galbraith
Nov 8, 1911
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Thomas E. O'Connell
Jun 17, 1912
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Peter Fitzsimons Nov 1, 1912
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William B. Heaney
May 3, 1913
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Eugene Burns May 3, 1913
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Charles B. Teare
May 4, 1913
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Bernard O'Rourke
Aug 1, 1913
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Patrick Cotter
Aug 4, 1913
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Joseph H. McNierney
Oct 3, 1913
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Daniel Gibbons
Dec 19, 1913
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Edward Murtha
Feb 6, 1914
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Thomas Wynn
Mar 31, 1914
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Joseph Guarnieri
Apr 2, 1914
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Michael Kiley
May 4, 1914
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John Mee
Jul 15, 1914
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John E. Hodgins Oct 7, 1914
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Edmond Lehane Dec 15, 1914
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Rush A. Webster
Jun 20, 1915
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George Dapping
Sep 24, 1915
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Joseph M. Gaffney
Jan 11, 1916
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William McAuliffe
Mar 18, 1916
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Henry H. Schwarz
May 30, 1916
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Bryan L. O'Donnell
Jun 11, 1916
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Thomas F. J. O'Grady
Aug 24, 1916
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Hugh McKiernan
Dec 5, 1916
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Ralph E. Boyland Feb 21, 1917
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DeForest Fredenburg Mar 10, 1917
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John Lober
Mar 10, 1917
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Richard Swanton Mar 16, 1917
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Thomas H. Beresford
May 21, 1917
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Samuel T. Cunningham Jun 19, 1917
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John P. Flood
Jul 3, 1917
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Robert H. Holmes
Aug 6, 1917
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John J. Regan Aug 8, 1917
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Samuel Rosenfeld
Feb 13, 1918
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John J. Quinn Feb 16, 1918
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Joseph A. Nolan Jun 26, 1918
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William Barrett Aug 26, 1918
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Thomas A. Herbert
Aug 30, 1918
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Charles L. Bender Oct 1, 1918
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Andrew M. Mullen
Oct 3, 1918
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William W. Lewis Oct 4, 1918
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John Robert Vogel
Oct 7, 1918
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Edward Christian Devenport Oct 7, 1918
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Daniel Joseph McCormick Oct 7, 1918
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George Newton Relyea
Oct 10, 1918
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James Joseph Killen Oct 10, 1918
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Thomas O'Connell
Oct 10, 1918
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John F. O'Hara Oct 10, 1918
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John J. Gargan Oct 12, 1918
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Cornelius Cuttrell
Oct 13, 1918
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Lawrence Hennessey
Oct 13, 1918
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John Julius Fisher
Oct 14, 1918
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Abraham Blumenthal Oct 16, 1918
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Carl Wuestenhoefer
Oct 16, 1918
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Daniel A. McAllister
Oct 18, 1918
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John W. Price Oct 18, 1918
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Michael J. Morgan Oct 18, 1918
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Arthur Schultz Oct 18, 1918
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 43-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1,221 officers from New York City Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.















