Bio & Incident Details
Age: 32
Tour: 4 years
Badge # Not available
Cause: Gunfire
Incident Date: 12/13/1976
Weapon: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect: Sentenced to life; killed after escaping
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Parole Officer Barry Sutherland was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a parole violator in New York City.
Officer Sutherland and two other Parole Officers got a tip that a parolee that had failed to appear, and had a warrant, was going to be at 16 East 42nd Street in Manhattan. The three officers waited in the lobby of the building for the suspect. When the suspect entered, he immediately recognized the parole officers and began to flee on foot. The suspect then drew a .32 Caliber handgun and opened fire, killing Officer Sutherland and wounding a civilian. Because the lobby was crowded with civilians, the other Parole Officers did not return fire, but instead tackled the suspect and placed him under arrest.
The suspect, who was on parole for Criminal Possession of a Weapon (illegal firearm) was later convicted of Murder 2nd Degree and sentenced to life in Prison. On May 30, 1978 the suspect escaped from Sing Sing State Prison. He was shot and killed on June 20, 1978 in a shootout with a New York City Police Officer after a team of officers from the New York State Police and the New York City Police Department tracked the suspect to an apartment in East New York Brooklyn.
Officer Sutherland had served with the New York State Division of Parole for four years. He had previously served in the United States Army.
Officer Sutherland was survived by his wife.
