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Jacob Szwedowski
Agency patch
Patrolman

Jacob Szwedowski

New York City Police Department — New York, NY
Accident
United States flag New York flag
End of Watch April 29, 1945
Age 27
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Badge 17941
The Vigil Panel 181 · Column 3 · Line 3 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 1,221

Incident

Patrolman Jacob Szwedowski was accidentally shot and killed when he was mistaken for a criminal while making an arrest on 113th Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue in Harlem. Patrolman Szwedowski and another plainclothes officer had arrested a woman for stealing six dollars from a man. As they attempted to lead her away, she grabbed onto a light pole and started screaming that she was being kidnapped. A large crowd gathered around the officers, who both pulled out their revolvers. Patrolman Szwedowski fired a shot into the air to try to disperse the crowd. Another officer who was nearby heard the screaming and shot and came to investigate. When he saw the commotion, the officer fired three shots, not realizing that men were police officers, striking Patrolman Szwedowski once in the back. Patrolman Szwedowski was taken to Unity Hospital where succumbed to his wounds. Patrolman Szwedowski was assigned to West 123rd Street Station (modern day 24th Precinct) and had served with the agency for two years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and daughter.

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 Szwedowski 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 Szwedowski.

— 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 April 29, 1945
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 27
Badge Number 17941
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Jacob 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.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1945, 62 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 70th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Jacob was 27. 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. Jacob 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

April holds 7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Sundays: 14%.

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, Jacob among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Jacob Szwedowski

New York City Police Department · End of Watch April 29, 1945

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 29-E

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