On a tragic day in Manhattan, Detective John D. Pollins, a 34-year-old male officer with the New York City Police Department, lost his life in the line of duty. On Monday, March 13, 1967, Detective Pollins and two of his fellow officers arrived at an apartment building at the corner of East 124th Street and Park Avenue with a warrant to arrest a suspect for narcotics sales.
As Detective Pollins and another officer made their way into the suspect's apartment, the third officer stood guard
outside. Without warning, the 57-year-old male suspect fired a 16-gauge shotgun twice, striking Detective Pollins in the face and injuring the other officer who had entered the apartment. The gunman then fled on foot, firing at the officers as he ran and wounding the third officer who was positioned outside.
Despite their injuries, the wounded officers pursued the suspect and were able to apprehend him after a brief chase. Detective Pollins was rushed to the hospital and underwent surgery for his severe wounds, but he succumbed to his injuries and died early the next morning, on March 14, 1967. A dedicated member of the Narcotics Division, he was survived by his wife and son. In his honor, a police boat was named after him.
