Mount Vernon Police Department, New York
End of Watch: Monday, June 24, 1974
Age: 39
Tour of Duty: 10 years
Badge Number: 36
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: June 24, 1974
Weapon Used: Shotgun; 12 gauge
Suspect Info: Died in prison
Detective Bernard Christopher was shot and killed when he attempted to stop a robbery while off-duty at 3:00 am.
Detective Christoper was at the Star Grill at 472 Frankin Avenue, Mount Vernon, when a man armed with a 12-gauge shotgun entered the location and announced a robbery. Detective Christopher drew his revolver and exchanged gunfire with the suspect. Detective Christopher was struck in the chest and killed.
An off-duty Police Officer from the New York City Police Department, who was also in the restaurant, pursued the suspect on foot and exchanged gunfire with him. That officer was slightly wounded and was unable to apprehend the suspect.
Three weeks later, a 29-year-old drifter was arrested for stabbing a man to death in Harlem on May 13, 1974. A week later, he was charged with Detective Christopher's murder. On March 11, 1975, he was convicted of Detective Christopher's murder and sentenced to 20 years to life. He was also convicted of first-degree robbery and sentenced to 20 years to life to run concurrently with his other sentence. He died in prison on December 2, 2003.
Detective Christopher was a United States Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Mount Vernon Police Department for ten years. He was survived by his wife.