Yonkers Police Department, New York
End of Watch: Thursday, September 30, 1982
Age: 58
Tour of Duty: 28 years
Badge Number: 157
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: September 26, 1982
Weapon Used: Handgun; 9 mm
Suspect Info: Charged with murder; found not guilty
Police Officer John Silinsky was shot and mortally wounded at 12:20 a.m. when he attempted to stop a robbery while off duty.
The suspect attempted to rob the Major Deegan Motel at 3600 Bailey Avenue in the Bronx, where Officer Silinsky moonlighted as a night manager. Officer Silinsky witnessed two armed men entering the hotel. He shut and locked the door, but the subject fired through the door, striking Officer Silinsky in the head with a 9mm semi-automatic pistol. The men fled the scene.
Officer Silinsky was transported to a local hospital but died four days later.
A suspect was later arrested and charged with murder but was found not guilty.
Officer Silinsky was a United States WWII U.S. Army veteran and served with the Yonkers Police Department for 28 years. He was survived by his wife, three children, and grandchildren.