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Geoffrey J. Breitkopf
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Police Officer

Geoffrey J. Breitkopf

Nassau County Police Department — Mineola, NY
Accident
United States flag New York flag
End of Watch March 12, 2011
Age 40
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
The Vigil Panel 160 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 50

Incident

Police Officer Geoffrey Breitkopf was accidentally shot and killed after being mistaken for a suspect by another police officer.

Officers from the Nassau County Police Department and an officer from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department responded to a call in Massapequa Park of a man running through the neighborhood armed with several knifes. After locating the suspect, they chased him on foot into a house, where the suspect barricaded himself inside a room. The officers removed the other occupants of the house and were inside when the suspect exited and charged at the officers with a knife in his hand. The officers shot and killed the suspect.

Officer Breitkopf, who was in plainclothes, responded to back-up the officers. He arrived at the scene just after the suspect had been shot and killed. He approached the house holding a rifle and was mistaken for a suspect by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority police officer, who then shot Officer Breitkopf.

Officer Breitkopf was taken to Nassau University Medical Center where he died from his wound.

Officer Breitkopf had served with the Nassau County Police Department for 12 years. He was assigned to the Bureau of Special Operations.

Officer Breitkopf is survived by his wife and two children.

Survivors

Officer Breitkopf is survived by his wife and two children.

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.
Police Officer Breitkopf gave the Nassau County Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Mineola community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Breitkopf.

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

Agency

Department Nassau County Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Mineola, Nassau County, NY
Platform Identity ncpd.nassau.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 12, 2011
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Age 40
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Geoffrey 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 2011, 64 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 66th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Geoffrey was 40. 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. Geoffrey had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

March holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Saturdays: 14.9%.

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

Nassau County Police Department has 51 officers remembered here, Geoffrey among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Geoffrey J. Breitkopf

Nassau County Police Department · End of Watch March 12, 2011

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 27-W

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