Port of New York Authority Police Department, New York
End of Watch: Monday, November 19, 1956
Age: 50
Tour of Duty: 28 years
Badge Number: 482
Cause of Death: Motorcycle crash
Date of Incident: November 19, 1956
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Officer James Calandra was killed when his motorcycle was struck by a truck that was changing lanes in the New Jersey-bound tube of the Holland Tunnel. Another Officer had instructed the truck driver to change lanes. The truck driver, not seeing Officer Calandra's motorcycle, changed lanes and struck Patrolman Calandra, killing him.
Patrolman Calandra had been in law enforcement for 28 years. He was one of the first forty men hired by the Port of New York Authority Police on May 26th, 1928, they were called Bridgemen at the time. He transferred to the New York State Police in 1931. He later resigned from the New York State Police and was re-appointed by the Port Authority in 1937.