Dennis Eric Guerra
Agency patch
Detective First Grade

Dennis Eric Guerra

Accident
End of Watch April 9, 2014
Age 38
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Badge 2799
The Vigil Panel 163 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Dennis E. Guerra was a police officer assigned to Police Service Area 1 in Brooklyn.

On 6 April 2014, Officer Guerra and Officer Rosa Rodriguez, who were not regular partners, were returning from taking a prisoner to central booking when they heard a radio call at 12:28 p.m. about a fire on the 13th floor of 2007 Surf Avenue in Coney Island, an 18-story public housing building known as Unity Towers. They happened to be passing the building and reached it in less than a minute, before any other first responders. Seeing no flames or smoke at street level, they took the elevator up to check on the residents.

Before they reached the 13th floor, black smoke filled the elevator, and they radioed that they could not see or breathe and did not know what floor they were on. At 12:37 p.m. the elevator door opened and smoke, heat and flames poured over them. Both officers collapsed unconscious. Firefighters reached the 13th floor at about 12:45 p.m., found them unresponsive in the hallway and brought them down by elevator to waiting medical crews. Officer Guerra was taken to Coney Island Hospital and then flown to Jacobi Hospital in the Bronx, where he remained in critical condition. He died of his injuries on 9 April 2014.

He was posthumously promoted to Detective First Grade by Police Commissioner William Bratton.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Guerra gave the New York City Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Guerra.

— 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 April 9, 2014
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Age 38
Badge Number 2799
Gender Male
Assignment PSA #1

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Cause Detail Fire
Weapon Arson

The Sacrifice · Accident

Dennis 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 2014, 48 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 99th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Dennis was 38. 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. Dennis 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

April holds 7% 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. The weapon recorded was arson, in 0% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective First Grade Dennis Eric Guerra

New York City Police Department · End of Watch April 9, 2014

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 27-E

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