New York City Police Department, New York
End of Watch Thursday, January 27, 1972
Add to My HeroesRocco W. Laurie
Officer Rocco Laurie and Officer Gregory Foster were assassinated by members of the Black Liberation Army while walking their patrol beat on Avenue B and East 11th Street in the 9th Precinct.
As they were walking down the street, three or four suspects walked past them, spun around, and opened fire, shooting them in their backs. After the officers fell, the killers took their handguns and shot them several more times.
On February 14, 1972, one of two suspects was shot and killed in a gun battle with police in St. Louis, Missouri. The other suspect, arrested at the scene, had Officer Laurie's service revolver in his possession. He was returned to New York and charged with two counts of murder. He was acquitted in 1973. He was returned to Missouri where he was sentenced to 25 years in prison for convictions in the St. Louis incident. A third suspect was captured in New Orleans in 1973. He was sentenced to life in prison for the murders of Patrolman Waverly Jones and Patrolman Joseph A. Piagentiai of the New York City Police Department on May 21, 1971.
Officer Laurie had served with the agency for two years. He was survived by his wife. Officer Laurie and Officer Foster served in the U.S. Marine Corps together and were Vietnam combat veterans. When they joined the New York City Police Department they requested to be assigned to the same precinct.
Officer Laurie is buried at Saint Peter's Cemetery in West New Brighton, New York.
In October 2019, Otis Avenue at Hylan Avenue in Staten Island was renamed Police Officer Rocco W. Laurie Way in his honor.
The Black Liberation Army was a violent, radical group that attempted to fight for independence from the United States government in the late 1960's and early 1970's. The BLA was responsible for the murders of more than 10 police officers around the country. They were also responsible for violent attacks around the country that left many police officers wounded.
Bio
- Age 23
- Tour 2 years
- Badge 11019
- Military Veteran
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Gun; Unknown type
- Offender One later shot and killed
Most Recent Reflection
View all 61 ReflectionsGod Bless all of our men and women in blue . Don't you realize they have to wear bullet proof vests to work . BLM is a Marxist , Leninist organization whose written intended goal is the total destruction of our country and to turn us ALL into slaves . Mayor Wilhelm , Deblasio's real name , helped the Sandinistas turn Nicaragua into a Marxist nightmare complete with re education concentration camps . He also quoted Che Guevara in Miami when running for president and then said Oh it was a mistake . That is like Hitler saying Juden ist verboten and then him saying Sorry , just a mistake . They already made re education mandatory in Seattle if you want to keep your city job . If Biden wins you will ALL be re educated .
Nicholas LaBella
Father was a police officer
July 20, 2020
Recent LODD Deaths

Master Police Officer Christine Peters
Greenbelt Police Department, MD
EOW: January 14, 2021

Conservation Officer Steven Reighard
Iowa Department of Natural Resources, IA
EOW: January 8, 2021

Police Officer Melton "Fox" Gore
Horry County Police Department, SC
EOW: January 12, 2021

Sergeant Frederick "Butch" Cameron
Fairfax County Sheriff's Office, VA
EOW: January 12, 2021

Officer Troy Allen Adkins
United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - Office of Field Operations, US
EOW: December 31, 2020

Unit Team Supervisor Gabe Morales
Kansas Department of Corrections, KS
EOW: December 22, 2020

Lieutenant William Lyle Gardner
Denver City Police Department, TX
EOW: January 7, 2021

Deputy Sheriff Jane Alice Ash
Effingham County Sheriff's Office, GA
EOW: December 16, 2020

Sergeant Randall Sims
Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Correctional Institutions Division, TX
EOW: January 3, 2021