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Police Officer

Arthur Lopez

Nassau County Police Department — Mineola, NY

Felonious

End of Watch October 23, 2012

Age 29

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

The Vigil Panel 162 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 50

Incident

Police Officer Arthur Lopez was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a hit-and-run driver at the intersection of 241st Street and Jamaica Avenue.

Officer Lopez and his partner observed a vehicle they believed had been involved in the hit-and-run accident near the border of Nassau County and New York City. The officers followed the vehicle into Queens, where they conducted a vehicle stop. The subject opened fire on the officers after they approached and exchanged words. Officer Lopez, who was not wearing a vest, was struck in the chest. The subject then fled in his vehicle. He abandoned his vehicle and carjacked a citizen, fatally shooting the driver.

Officer Lopez was transported to North Shore Long Island Jewish Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.

The subject was arrested several hours later and was suffering two self-inflicted gunshot wounds. He was identified as a former convict who had served four years for attempted murder. He was subsequently arrested, charged and convicted with two counts of first-degree murder for murdering Officer Lopez and the civilian. He was subsequently sentenced to life without parole. He died in prison in 2019.

A second subject was arrested and charged in connection with providing the subject with the firearm used to commit the murders.

Officer Lopez had served with the Nassau County Police Department for eight years and was assigned to the Emergency Services Unit.

In October 2015, the Jamaica Avenue Bridge over Cross Island Parkway near the intersection where he was killed was renamed Police Officer Arthur Lopez Memorial Bridge.

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Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: September 9, 2026

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Lopez gave the Nassau County Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Mineola community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Lopez.

— 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 October 23, 2012

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

Age 29

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Arthur is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 2012, 66 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 109th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Arthur was 29. 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. Arthur had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded