Poughkeepsie City Police Department, New York
End of Watch: Friday, February 18, 2011
Age: 44
Tour of Duty: 18 years
Badge Number: 22
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: February 18, 2011
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Killed by self-inflicted gunshot during
Detective John Falcone was shot and killed after responding to a shots-fired call on Main Street.
He was just over a block away when he received the call and when he arrived at the scene, he encountered a man holding a 3-year-old child while waving a gun. The suspect fled, still holding the child, with Detective Falcone in pursuit.
Detective Falcone was able to rescue the child from the man and handed the child to a bystander before engaging in a struggle with the suspect as other officers arrived at the scene. During the struggle, Detective Falcone was fatally shot in the head before the man committed suicide while struggling with another officer.
The subject's wife was found in a nearby car with a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
Detective Falcone had served with the Poughkeepsie Police Department for 18 years. He is survived by his parents.
Detective Falcone was posthumously promoted to the rank of Detective. Route 9 in Dutchess County was renamed Detective John M. Falcone Memorial Highway in August 2014.