New York City Police Department, New York
End of Watch: Friday, August 17, 1979
Age: 36
Tour of Duty: 12 years
Badge Number: 26481
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: August 17, 1979
Weapon Used: Handgun; .380 caliber
Suspect Info: At large
Police Officer Thomas Schimenti was shot and killed following a foot chase with a bank robbery suspect.
Officer Schimenti was walking his beat when he was flagged down by a woman who told him that a man in a gorilla mask was robbing a bank at 100 Park Avenue. As Officer Schimenti turned toward the bank, he observed the suspect exit and begin to flee north on Park Avenue on foot. Officer Schimenti began to chase the suspect and radioed for assistance. As Officer Schimenti was chasing the suspect, two detectives who were in the area observed the chase and joined in.
They chased the suspect to the front of Grand Central Terminal, where the suspect turned and opened fire. Officer Schimenti was struck and killed, and one of the detectives was wounded. The suspect was wounded once and fled. He was apprehended by the second detective, who found him hiding under a car one block away.
On March 3, 1980, the suspect, 37, escaped with three other inmates from Rikers Island Prison, where he was being held for Officer Schimenti's murder. They stole a corrections officer's car that was found abandoned near Kennedy Airport the next day. Three were captured. Officer Schimenti's killer remains at large.
Officer Schimenti had served with the New York City Police Department for 12 years and was assigned to the Midtown South Precinct. He was survived by his wife and two children.
On August 17th, 1988, a popular street corner on Staten Island was renamed in Officer Schimenti's honor.