Sergeant John E. Frey
New York State Police
New York
End of Watch: Wednesday, March 18, 1931

Biographical Info
Age: 35
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Wednesday, March 18, 1931
Weapon Used: Handgun; .45 caliber
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 30 years to life

Sergeant Frey was shot and killed by a prisoner he was transporting. Sergeant Frey was transporting the suspect in the suspect’s own vehicle while another Trooper was transporting another suspect in a police vehicle. Unknown to Sergeant Frey, there was a gun hidden in the vehicle and the suspect was able to reach that gun. The suspect overtook and disarmed the other Trooper, and freed his friend from custody. Both suspects returned to where Sergeant Frey was standing by the road and killed him in an exchange of gunfire. A few days later both suspects were captured after a gunfight with police in McAlester, Oklahoma.

Both suspects were convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 30 years to life Febuary 13, 1932. They were both paroled in 1952. One was sent back to prison in 1954 for burglarizing a tavern near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was paroled again in 1964, but was returned to prison a short time later for violating his parole.