Michael Talkowsky
Agency patch
Patrolman

Michael Talkowsky

Felonious
End of Watch January 31, 1959
Age 23
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Badge 17657
The Vigil Panel 94 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Michael Talkowsky was shot and killed as he and another officer attempted to arrest three robbery suspects. Patrolman Talkowsky and his partner were walking a beat on Lexington Avenue, near 98th Street in Manhattan, when breaking glass from a third-floor apartment caught their attention. The two patrolmen entered the building and went to the third floor, where they found three armed suspects robbing a group of poker players. When the suspects saw the officers, they opened fire. Patrolman Talkowsky was shot. Before he collapsed, he and his partner returned fire, killing one subject. The other two subjects, 16 and 26, fled the scene but were apprehended the same day and charged with murder. Patrolman Talkowsky served with the New York City Police Department for two years and was assigned to the 23rd Precinct.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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 Talkowsky 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 Talkowsky.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location New York, NY
Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 31, 1959
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 23
Badge Number 17657
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Michael 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.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1959, 61 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 123rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Michael was 23. 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. Michael 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

January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

New York City Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Michael among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Michael Talkowsky

New York City Police Department · End of Watch January 31, 1959

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 44-E

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