New York City Police Department, New York
End of Watch: Monday, September 25, 1995
Age: 31
Tour of Duty: 4 years
Badge Number: 12901
Cause of Death: Automobile crash
Date of Incident: September 23, 1995
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Officer David Willis was killed in an automobile crash at the intersection of 11th Avenue and West 30th Street while responding to a call of shots fired at 9:45 a.m.
En route to the scene at West 28th Street between 9th and 10th Avenue., Officer Willis' patrol car was struck by a U.S. Postal Service truck. Upon impact, Officer Willis was ejected from the vehicle. The patrol car spun around, and before coming to a stop, it mounted the sidewalk and struck a protective pole surrounding a fire alarm box, the base of a street light, and the side of a building.
Officer Willis was rushed to St. Vincent’s Hospital in critical condition. He died two days later from injuries sustained in the collision.
Officer Willis had served with the New York City Police Department for four years and was assigned to the 10th Precinct. He is survived by his two children.
In 1996, Officer Willis was posthumously awarded the New York City Police Department's Purple Shield Medal.