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Paul J. Tuozzolo
Agency patch
Sergeant

Paul J. Tuozzolo

New York City Police Department — New York, NY
Felonious
United States flag New York flag
End of Watch November 4, 2016
Age 41
Tour of Duty 19 yrs
The Vigil Panel 370 · Column 3 · Line 20 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 1,221

Incident

Sergeant Paul Tuozzolo was shot and killed after he and another officer located a suspect who had just held his estranged wife and her family hostage for several hours.

At approximately 2:45 pm, the man broke into his estranged wife's home in the Bronx. The man told his estranged wife that he was planning to engage in a shootout with the police during the ordeal. He eventually fled in a vehicle after the victim was able to call 911. Sergeant Tuozzolo and other officers were canvassing the area for the vehicle when they located it at Bronx River Avenue and Noble Avenue.

Officers boxed the vehicle in. As Sergeant Tuozzolo and another sergeant exited their patrol cars, the subject opened fire with a .45 caliber handgun. Sergeant Tuozzolo was struck in the head and killed, and a second sergeant was struck in the leg. Before being hit in the head, Sergeant Tuozzolo yelled "gun," which the other officer credited with saving his life. Other officers at the scene returned fire, killing the suspect. The suspect had a lengthy criminal history and had been deported twice.

Sergeant Tuozzolo had served with the New York City Police Department for 19 years and was assigned to the 43rd Precinct.

Sergeant Tuozzolo was posthumously promoted to Sergeant Special Assignment. On June 16, 2017, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. The Sergeant Paul Tuozzolo Memorial Park was opened in Bayville on September 18, 2017. On July 11, 2018, Sergeant Paul Tuozzolo Spray Park opened in Huntington. As of 2024, it is the only spray park in the United States dedicated to an agency and fallen law enforcement officer.

At approximately 2:45 pm, the man broke into his estranged wife's home in the Bronx. The man told his estranged wife that he was planning to engage in a shootout with the police during the ordeal. He eventually fled in a vehicle after the victim was able to call 911. Sergeant Tuozzolo and other officers were canvassing the area for the vehicle when they located it at Bronx River Avenue and Noble Avenue.

Officers boxed the vehicle in. As Sergeant Tuozzolo and another sergeant exited their patrol cars, the subject opened fire with a .45 caliber handgun. Sergeant Tuozzolo was struck in the head and killed, and a second sergeant was struck in the leg. Before being hit in the head, Sergeant Tuozzolo yelled "gun," which the other officer credited with saving his life. Other officers at the scene returned fire, killing the suspect. The suspect had a lengthy criminal history and had been deported twice.

Sergeant Tuozzolo had served with the New York City Police Department for 19 years and was assigned to the 43rd Precinct.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two young sons.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Tuozzolo gave the New York City Police Department 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Tuozzolo.

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

Agency

Department New York City Police Department
Type Police Department
Location New York, NY
Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 4, 2016
Tour of Duty 19 yrs
Age 41
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Paul is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 2016, 82 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 78th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Paul was 41. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Paul had served 19 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

November holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 9.5% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Sergeant Paul J. Tuozzolo

New York City Police Department · End of Watch November 4, 2016

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 16-E

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