Patrolman

Ralph E. Boyland

Accident
End of Watch February 21, 1917
Age 60
Tour of Duty 30 yrs
The Vigil Panel 32 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Ralph Boylanddied of injuries he sustained three days earlier when he was struck by a trolley car while patrolling near the east anchorage of the Williamsburg Bridge.

Patrolman Boyland served with the New York City Police Department for 30 years and was assigned to the 13th Precinct, the present-day 7th Precinct.

Patrolman Boyland served with the New York City Police Department for 30 years and was assigned to the 13th Precinct, the present-day 7th Precinct.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, daughter, and four sons.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

30 years. You could have gone home.
Patrolman Boyland gave the New York City Police Department 30 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Boyland.

— 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 February 21, 1917
Tour of Duty 30 yrs
Age 60
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Cause Detail Struck by streetcar

The Sacrifice · Accident

Ralph 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.

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

Time

In 1917, 41 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 107th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Ralph was 60. 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. Ralph had served 30 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 7.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.

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, Ralph among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Ralph E. Boyland

New York City Police Department · End of Watch February 21, 1917

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 60-W

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