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David A. Willis
Agency patch
Police Officer

David A. Willis

New York City Police Department — New York, NY
Accident
United States flag New York flag
End of Watch September 25, 1995
Age 31
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Badge 12901
The Vigil Panel 142 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 1,221

Incident

Officer David Willis was killed in an automobile crash at the intersection of 11th Avenue and West 30th Street while responding to a call of shots fired at 9:45 a.m. En route to the scene at West 28th Street between 9th and 10th Avenue., Officer Willis' patrol car was struck by a U.S. Postal Service truck. Upon impact, Officer Willis was ejected from the vehicle. The patrol car spun around, and before coming to a stop, it mounted the sidewalk and struck a protective pole surrounding a fire alarm box, the base of a street light, and the side of a building. Officer Willis was rushed to St. Vincent’s Hospital in critical condition. He died two days later from injuries sustained in the collision. Officer Willis had served with the New York City Police Department for four years and was assigned to the 10th Precinct. He is survived by his two children. In 1996, Officer Willis was posthumously awarded the New York City Police Department's Purple Shield Medal.

Survivors

He is survived by his two 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

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Willis gave the New York City Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Willis.

— 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 September 25, 1995
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Age 31
Badge Number 12901
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.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1995, 73 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 38th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

David was 31. 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 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

September holds 9.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13.4%.

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.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer David A. Willis

New York City Police Department · End of Watch September 25, 1995

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 33-W

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