In the late summer of 2019, the community of Goshen, New York, was shaken by the untimely death of one of its residents, a man who had dedicated over two decades of his life to law enforcement. Jose 'Joey' A. Pabon, Jr., a 49-year-old retired NYPD sergeant, was found deceased at his home on Wednesday, September 11, 2019. His death was determined to be the result of an apparent suicide.
Pabon, who had retired from the police force four years prior, had a long and memorable career with the
NYPD, where he served for 22 years. He was a first responder on September 11, 2001, a day of immense tragedy that left a lasting impact on countless lives. His wife reportedly discovered his body in a shed on their property. Reports from the Sergeants Benevolent Association indicated that he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He did not leave a note behind.
The news of Pabon's death reverberated through the law enforcement community, as he became one of a number of active or retired New York City police officers to die by suicide that year. He was remembered by his loved ones as the beloved son of Jose A. and Rosa Pabon and the cherished husband of Maria Pabon, with whom he had shared 25 years. He was a father to four children: Christy, Tiffany, Michael, and Matthew.
Family and friends gathered to pay their final respects in the days that followed. A visitation was held on Sunday, September 15, at Donovan Funeral Home in Goshen. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated the next day at St. Columba Church in Chester. In the wake of his death, a GoFundMe page was established to help his family with funeral costs.
