David Brinkerhoff

New York State Police — Albany, NY

Accident

End of Watch April 25, 2007

Age 29

Tour of Duty 8 yrs 6 mo

The Vigil Panel 155 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 170

Incident

Trooper David Brinkerhoff was accidentally shot and killed by another officer during an intense gun battle while taking part in a manhunt for an assailant who had shot and wounded a New York State Trooper the previous day.

On April 24, 2007, a New York State Trooper stopped a stolen vehicle at the Sunoco Country Store located on Main Street in Margaretville. As he approached the vehicle, the suspect opened fire, striking the trooper on his vest and then fleeing into the woods. Members of the New York State Police, Delaware County Sheriff's Department, and several other surrounding agencies mobilized to search for the suspect.

The following day, Trooper Brinkerhoff and six members of the Mobile Response Team were searching for the suspect in a home on Cemetery Road in Margaretville after a burglar alarm signal was received by local police. Trooper Brinkerhoff and another trooper entered a room on the second floor of the home when the suspect opened fire, striking him in the chest. That round was deflected by his bullet-resistant vest. An intense, close-quarters gun battle ensued between the suspect and four troopers. During that exchange of gunfire, one trooper was wounded by the suspect, and Trooper Brinkerhoff was accidentally shot and killed by another trooper. The remaining troopers pulled their fellow officers to safety and withdrew from the house.

Police surrounded the home, and after a nine-and-a-half-hour standoff, police again approached the home, firing tear gas. As they gained entry, the house began to burn, and within minutes was fully engulfed in flames. Police were unable to gain entry into the home due to the fire. After extinguishing the fire, officers found that the suspect has been fatally wounded by Trooper Brinkerhoff in the earlier gun battle and had died.

Trooper Brinkerhoff had served with the New York State Police for 8 1/2 years and was assigned to the Mobile Response Team.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and seven-month-old daughter.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Trooper Brinkerhoff gave the New York State Police 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of New York. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Brinkerhoff.

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

Agency

Department New York State Police

Type State Police

Location Albany, Albany County, NY

Platform Identity nysp.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 25, 2007

Tour of Duty 8 yrs 6 mo

Age 29

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

David is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 2007, 94 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 11th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States

Who

David was 29. 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. David had served 8.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.