Henry R McDevitt

Henry R. McDevitt was a 14-year veteran of the New York City Police Department. He was the oldest cadet in his Police Academy class, which earned him the nickname "Pappy" among his colleagues; family and friends called him "Mickey."

As a member of the Anti-Crime Unit in the 48 Precinct in the Bronx, Detective McDevitt and his partner were investigating a burglary in progress on Mount Eden Avenue. While climbing a ladder to enter an apartment through a window, he fell and shattered his knee. Weeks later a blood clot formed and traveled to his heart, and he died on 26 June 1977. He was 43 years old.

He was survived by his wife, Margaret ("Marge"), and five sons. In 1980 his son Robert made a kinetic metal sculpture in his memory, "Movement in Space 2," which stood for years in the main room of the 48 Precinct until it was accidentally destroyed during a renovation. A plaque in his memory was installed in 2009 and later replaced with a large granite plaque. A grandson, Scott McDevitt, later joined the department.

Marge McDevitt died on 1 April 2020 at the age of 86. Her long-held wish that a street near the family home be named for her husband was fulfilled on 13 November 2021, when the corner of West 14 Street and Long Island Avenue in Deer Park, New York, was renamed Detective Henry R. McDevitt Memorial Way.

Detective McDevitt died from injuries he received when he fell from a ladder while on a burglary call. Detective McDevitt and his partner responded to a burglary in progress call. Detective McDevitt's partner guarded the front door while Detective McDevitt went to access the apartment via the window, using the superintendent's step ladder. While climbing up, Detective McDevitt fell from the very top of the ladder and shattered his knee. He died weeks later when a blood clot from the knee reached his heart. He was assigned to the 48th Precinct and had been with the New York City Police Department for 13 years.