Plato B. Arvanitis
Agency patch
Patrolman

Plato B. Arvanitis

Accident
End of Watch December 21, 1967
Age 38
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Badge 232
The Vigil Panel 103 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Plato Arvanitis and Patrolman George Bishop were killed in a helicopter accident while on a traffic surveillance flight. The helicopter crashed into the East River near the Manhattan Bridge approximately two hours into the flight. The body of Patrolman Arvanitis was located shortly after the crash. Patrolman Bishop's body was recovered on May 17, 1968. Patrolman Arvanitis had been with the New York City Police Department for 12 years and was assigned to the Aviation Unit.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and 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.
Patrolman Arvanitis gave the New York City Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Arvanitis.

— 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 December 21, 1967
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Age 38
Badge Number 232
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Plato 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.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1967, 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

Plato 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. Plato had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

December holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Thursdays: 14%.

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, Plato among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Plato B. Arvanitis

New York City Police Department · End of Watch December 21, 1967

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 47-E

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