Philip A. LaMonica
Agency patch
Detective

Philip A. LaMonica

Accident
End of Watch September 21, 1952
Age 45
Tour of Duty 14 yrs
Badge 2068
The Vigil Panel 88 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Philip A. LaMonica joined the New York City Police Department in July 1938 and was promoted to detective in June 1949. He served with the 42nd Squad, carrying shield 2068.

Three fugitives on the FBI's Most Wanted list had escaped from the federal penitentiary at Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, and gone on an eleven-day spree of kidnapping, bank robbery and a gun shop hold-up. At about one in the morning of 21 September 1952, thirty-one officers raided the apartment where they were hiding at 500 West 140th Street. One of the men stood on a bed with his hands up as if to surrender, then pulled a revolver from behind his back. Detective LaMonica tried to push the gun away from his partners and was shot. Detective Nicholas Cotter was critically wounded. Two of the fugitives were killed and the third was captured. LaMonica died minutes after reaching Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. He was 45 and had served fourteen years.

He was given an Inspector's funeral and buried in St. Raymond's Cemetery in the Bronx. He was survived by his wife, Phyliss, and their children, William and Renee. He was honoured at the department's Medal Day on 6 April 1953.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife.

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.
Detective LaMonica gave the New York City Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective LaMonica.

— 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 September 21, 1952
Tour of Duty 14 yrs
Age 45
Badge Number 2068
Gender Male
Assignment 42 Squad

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

The Sacrifice · Accident

Philip 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.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1952, 52 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 90th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Philip was 45. 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. Philip had served 14 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

September holds 9.2% 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. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 0.5% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective Philip A. LaMonica

New York City Police Department · End of Watch September 21, 1952

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 19-E

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