Prev Next

Detective

Joseph A. Picciano

New York City Police Department — New York, NY

Felonious

End of Watch February 15, 1971

Age 33

Tour of Duty 10 yrs 2 mo

Badge 2281

The Vigil Panel 108 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 1,221

Incident

Joseph A. Picciano joined the New York City Police Department in 1960 and was first assigned to the Narcotics Bureau. He was promoted to detective in June 1969. He lived in Maspeth, Queens, with his wife and their three young children.

At about 4:40 a.m. on 15 February 1971, Detective Picciano was in the second-floor squad room of the 41st Precinct stationhouse on Simpson Street in the Bronx, where a prisoner, Antonio Allemano, was being fingerprinted. Allemano grabbed for the detective's gun and the two men struggled. Two other detectives in the room, Joe Marrero and Richard Ware, took cover and shouted a warning when the gun fell to the floor. Allemano picked it up and fired two shots, striking Detective Picciano in the chest and stomach, then fired the remaining rounds around the room. Det. William Lally, who heard the struggle from across the hall, ran in and shot Allemano dead. Detective Picciano was taken to Jacobi Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

He was 33 years old and had served 11 years. His funeral was held on 19 February 1971 at St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church in Maspeth. More than 4,000 mourners attended, among them Mayor John Lindsay and Police Commissioner Patrick V. Murphy.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: neuraspine_01krbxtn84y7vrv22z1x56k91d
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 Joseph. 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.
Detective Picciano gave the New York City Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Picciano.

— 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 February 15, 1971

Tour of Duty 10 yrs 2 mo

Age 33

Badge Number 2281

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Joseph is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1971, 168 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 18th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Joseph was 33. 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. Joseph had served 10.2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

February holds 7.4% 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 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 5.8% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded