Edward R. Byrne
Agency patch
Police Officer

Edward R. Byrne

Felonious
End of Watch February 26, 1988
Age 22
Tour of Duty 7 mo
Badge 14072
The Vigil Panel 133 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Edward Byrne was shot and killed in an ambush at the intersection of Inwood Street and 107th Avenue in South Jamaica, Queens, while protecting a witness in a drug case. He was parked in a marked patrol car in front of the witness's home when two suspects approached him. One of the suspects knocked on the passenger window to distract him as the second suspect ran up to him beside the driver's window and opened fire, striking him in the head three times. Two additional suspects served as lookouts. On March 4, 1988, two suspects, 19 and 24, were apprehended in Queens. The other two, both 22, were picked up the next day. The 19-year-old was identified as the killer. He was also wanted for the murder of a woman, 23, in Greenwich, Connecticut, a few weeks earlier, and the murder of a woman, 21, in Queens a week later. All four were sentenced to 25 years to life. Officer Byrne's killer has a parole hearing in 2024. The 24-year-old was released on parole in 2023. Two were denied parole in 2025, and another has a hearing in 2025. The gang's leader, 29, serving a 25-year-to-life sentence for drug and gun charges, ordered Officer Byrne's murder. As a result of his conviction, federal prosecutors were able to link him and his associates to the murder of Parole Officer Brian F. Rooney, for which he was convicted in October 1985. He was paroled on April 5, 2022, and taken into custody by federal officers. Officer Byrne had served just seven months with the New York City Police Department. He is survived by his parents and three brothers. Officer Byrne's father was also a New York City Police Officer. In February 2018, 91st Avenue in Jamaica, Queens, was renamed Edward Byrne Avenue. President George H.W. Bush kept Officer Byrne's badge with him during his entire campaign for president.

Survivors

He is survived by his parents and three brothers.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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.
Police Officer Byrne served with the New York City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Byrne.

— 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 February 26, 1988
Tour of Duty 7 mo
Age 22
Badge Number 14072
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Edward is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% 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 1988, 97 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 55th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Edward was 22. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Edward had served 0.6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

February holds 7.4% 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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Edward R. Byrne

New York City Police Department · End of Watch February 26, 1988

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 53-E

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