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Police Officer

Thomas P. Ruotolo

New York City Police Department — New York, NY

Felonious

End of Watch February 14, 1984

Age 30

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Badge 14130

The Vigil Panel 128 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 1,221

Incident

Police Officer Thomas Ruotolo was shot and killed after he and his partner stopped a suspect with a stolen moped around 6:45 p.m. Officer Ruotolo and his partner were on patrol when they heard a report of a stolen moped over their radio. When they stopped at the corner of 149th Street and Bruckner Avenue in the Bronx, they observed the suspect filling the moped with gas at the corner gas station. Officer Ruotolo pulled his patrol car up behind the suspect, and he and his partner exited. As they approached, before they said a word to the suspect, the suspect drew a snub-nosed revolver and opened fire. Officer Ruotolo was struck in the head and killed. His partner returned fire but was shot and wounded. An off-duty officer using the pay phone at the gas station witnessed the incident and opened fire on the suspect, but he was also shot and wounded. Officer Ruotolo was pronounced dead at the scene. His partner and the off-duty officer were removed to a local hospital and later recovered from their wounds. The suspect fled but was later apprehended at a local hospital when he showed up seeking treatment for four gunshot wounds. The suspect, a career-violent criminal who was on parole for manslaughter and robbery, pleaded guilty to one charge of first-degree murder and two charges of first-degree attempted murder. He was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison. He was denied parole in September 2023. Officer Ruotolo had served with the New York City Police Department for three years and was assigned to the 41st Precinct.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

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Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Ruotolo gave the New York City Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Ruotolo.

— 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 14, 1984

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 30

Badge Number 14130

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Thomas 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.

Compare against

Time

In 1984, 91 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 62nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Thomas was 30. 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. Thomas had served 3 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%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded