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Joseph W. Swoboda
Agency patch
Patrolman

Joseph W. Swoboda

New York City Police Department — New York, NY
Accident
United States flag New York flag
End of Watch June 22, 1942
Age 38
Badge 3771
The Vigil Panel 79 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 1,221

Incident

Patrolman Swoboda was struck and killed by a trolley car while patrolling the Queensboro Bridge. His body was found by a trolley car conductor between the tracks and the guardrail near the Long Island side of the bridge.

Patrolman Swoboda was regularly assigned to Traffic Unit C but had been temporarily assigned to patrol the bridge.

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 Swoboda served with the New York City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Swoboda.

— 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 June 22, 1942
Age 38
Badge Number 3771
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Joseph is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1942, 65 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 65th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Joseph was 38. 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.

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

When

June holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13.4%.

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, Joseph among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Joseph W. Swoboda

New York City Police Department · End of Watch June 22, 1942

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 11-W

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