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Troy David Patterson
Agency patch
Detective

Troy David Patterson

New York City Police Department — New York, NY
Felonious
United States flag New York flag
End of Watch April 29, 2023
Age 61
Tour of Duty 40 yrs
Badge 2609
The Vigil Panel 398 · Column 4 · Line 19 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 1,221

Incident

Troy D. Patterson was born and raised in Brooklyn and attended Erasmus Hall High School. A lover of music, especially jazz, he played the trumpet and traveled to perform, including overseas, and he built a large collection of records and tapes. He was appointed to the New York City Police Department on 1 July 1983 and served in the 71st Precinct before becoming a patrol officer in the 60th Precinct in Coney Island. Colleagues said taking guns off the street was his specialty, and he received several commendations.

On 16 January 1990, at about 5:40 p.m., Officer Patterson was off duty and washing his car outside 50 Jefferson Avenue, in front of Public School 3 between Bedford and Franklin Avenues in Bedford-Stuyvesant, near the home he shared with his mother and aunt. A group of teenagers, one of them armed, tried to rob him, and one shot him once in the head without warning before they fled on foot. Responding officers found the 27-year-old with his wallet, shield and holstered service revolver still on him. The bullet passed through his right ear and his brain and lodged near his left ear. Doctors doubted he would survive and expected that, if he did, he would be blind. He was engaged to be married at the time.

By 26 January 1990, detectives had arrested Vincent Robbins, 20, Darren Crawford, 17, and the gunman, Tracy Clark, 15, who said he wanted $20 toward a $37 fee to play in the United Brooklyn Basketball League.

Detective Patterson remained in a catatonic state for 33 years, still assigned to the department, until he died on 29 April 2023.

Survivors

He is survived by his son and grandchildren.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

40 years. You could have gone home.
Detective Patterson gave the New York City Police Department 40 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Patterson.

— 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 April 29, 2023
Tour of Duty 40 yrs
Age 61
Badge Number 2609
Gender Male
Assignment Employee Relations

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Troy is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 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 2023, 61 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 123rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Troy was 61. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Troy had served 40 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

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; .38 caliber, in 0.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

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

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective Troy David Patterson

New York City Police Department · End of Watch April 29, 2023

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 56-E

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