In the early morning hours of August 14, 1980, the quiet of a Brooklyn street was shattered by the sound of gunfire, ending the life of a dedicated public servant. Harry Ryman, a 43-year-old male, was an off-duty New York City Police Officer at the time. A 17-year veteran of the force, he was awakened by noises outside his Marine Park home. Upon investigating, he discovered three men attempting to steal his neighbor's car.
Identifying himself as a police officer, Ryman attempted to
intervene and make an arrest. The perpetrators, however, responded with violence, opening fire on the officer. Despite being struck multiple times, Ryman managed to return fire, wounding one of his assailants. The exchange of gunfire proved fatal for the officer, who was a husband and father to five children. He was rushed to Kings County Hospital, but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The suspects, later identified as Paul Ford, Barrington Young, and Cornelius Bucknor, fled the scene. In a twist of fate, their attempt to seek medical attention for the wounded member of their group led to their swift capture. Alert police officers stationed at the same hospital where Ryman was taken noticed the men, one of whom was bleeding from the head. This aroused their suspicion, and after a brief foot pursuit of two of the suspects and the arrest of the third in the emergency room, all three were taken into custody. They were subsequently charged with first-degree murder.
Following their convictions, the three men spent decades in prison. The pain of Ryman's loss was revisited upon his family every two years as they attended parole hearings to advocate against the release of his killers. Despite their efforts and the support of the police union, all three men were eventually granted parole and released in 2021, a decision that brought renewed grief to Ryman's loved ones.
