Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

It’s been 55 years and there’s only a couple of us left who were directly involved in this tragedy.
But it’s still vivid and we’ll never ever forget Ed and Tony.

Chuck Harvey
Retired FBI

January 8, 2024

RIP sir

First Sergeant Thomas Webb, Retired.
New York State Police - Troop D

March 23, 2023

54 years later. There’s not many of us left who were there on that fateful day. But the sacrifices made by Ed and Tony will live on forever.
Continue to rest in peace brothers.

Chuck Harvey
Retired FBI

January 8, 2023

It’s been 53 years today.
But we’ll NEVER forget your sacrifices.

Chuck Harvey
Retired FBI

January 8, 2022

My prayer for the officers and special agents,

We thank you, O Lord, for the women and men in law enforcement, for their willingness to answer the call to protect and serve, and for their dedication to the safety, well-being, and protection of others.

Send your holy angels to stand guard and keep watch over them. May their names be always on the lips of your saints in prayer.

Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; fill them with wisdom for the decisions they face; give them courage to handle the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be.

Keep them and their families safe and healthy. Grant them times of rest and renewal. Make them to lie down in green pastures and lead them by still waters.

Bless them and keep them, let your face shine upon them, be gracious to them, lift up your countenance upon them, and give them peace. All this we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

FEDERAL AGENT: Someone who solves problems you never knew existed in ways that will blow your mind.
See also: ninja; badass; legend.

Glitchy Dancer

September 1, 2021

A cold and darkened hallway. The last place my father would go. The backdrop of his final breath. On January 8, 1969, a chance encounter with an escaped bank robber would be met with tragic results and a create an event which led to one of the most massive manhunts in the history of the nation's capital. Today, I remember my father, Edwin R. Woodriffe, and fellow slain FBI Special Agent, Anthony Palmisano. I am grateful for their lives, and honored to join others who -on this day- come together to honor their eternal sacrifice. Heroes never die... not while there is love in our hearts.

Lee Woodriffe
Daughter

January 8, 2021

Rest in peace Special Agent Woodriffe.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

January 8, 2020

Tomorrow, it will be 51 years.
Eddie and Tony will NOT be forgotten.

Chuck Harvey, Special Agent(Retired)
FBI

January 7, 2020

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."
Matthew 5:9

Marshal Chris Di Gerolamo
Federal Air Marshal Service

September 3, 2019

I remember the deaths of this agent and his colleague. I was just a child, but I lived in S.E. DC not too far from where this incident happened and it was major news. I've thought about the tragedy and the two FBI agents off and on for the past 50 years. They deserved better because they were just doing their jobs. May they continue to rest in peace.

David Duarte
S.E. D.C. Resident in 1969

July 19, 2019

On April 26, 2019 the intersection of Claver Place & Jefferson Ave in Brooklyn was re-named Special Agent Edwin R. Woodriffe Way. SA Woodriffe's family, friends and colleagues were all there to witness this historic event.

A hero remembered, never dies...

FBI New York Office
Federal Bureau of Investigation

May 19, 2019

January 8, 2019 Washington D.C.

Eddie and Tony we’re solemnly and properly honored at the Wall and at the FBI’s Washington Field Office.
Eddie would be so proud of his
AWESOME kids.
Rest In Peace brothers.
We will never forget your sacrifice!

Chuck Harvey, FBI Special Agent (retired

January 11, 2019

Rest In Peace Brother LEO. You are honored and remembered on the 50th anniversary of your EOW.

Officer Mike Robinson (Ret.)
Upland Police Dept. CA

January 8, 2019

Agent Woodriffe,
On today, the 50th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you to you and your fellow Agent who was killed in that incident for your service and sacrifice for our Country. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

R.I.P.
USBP

Anonymous
United States Border Patrol

January 8, 2019

SA Woodriffe was my training agent as I completed FBI Academy training during late 1968. I never forgot the guidance and council he gave to another fellow from Brooklyn. Ed will always remain in my thoughts and prayers.

Rest in Peace.

SA Larry Gallagher (Retired)
FBI

September 8, 2018

The FBI never forgets it's fallen. SA Woodriffe's bravery is retold to new agents and FBI Explorers. May he rest in eternal peace knowing that his life mattered!

Community Outreach Specialist Kevin Man
FBI

May 25, 2018

Agent Woodriffe,
On today, the 49th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank to you and your fellow Agent who was also killed in that incident for your service and sacrifice for our Country. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

R.I.P.
USBP

Anonymous
United States Border Patrol

January 8, 2018

You and Tony are still remembered.

Chuck Harvey
Special Agent, FBI (retired)

January 8, 2017

Miss you daddy. Continue to rest in paradise. Love you always.

Lee Ann Woodriffe
Daughter

January 8, 2016

I will never forget Eddie and Tony and especially remember them at this time each year. I was there that horrible day and stayed with them from the scene to the hospital. They never had a chance.
Your sacrifices will never be forgotten. God bless your families and may you continue to rest in peace.

Chuck Harvey
FBI (retired)

January 9, 2015

RIP Daddy. Though 45 years have passed, you are never forgotten and always missed. We love you!

Lee Ann Woodriffe
Loving daughter

January 8, 2014

Special Agent Edwin Woodriffe is a hero in a number of key aspects. He conducted himself in an exceptional manner keeping in the highest traditions of the FBI. I did not know Special Agent Woodriffe or Special Agent Palmisano, but I'm proud of both individuals, and I thank their respective parents for the fine job they did with their respective sons.

Thank you Special Agent Edwin Woodriffe for protecting our Nation, and for being one of the first African Americans Field Agents in the FBI.

To the families of Special Agent Woodriffe and Special Agent Palmisano, please know that they are both in Heaven with our Lord God.

First Sergeant Thomas Webb (Retired)
New York State Police

April 15, 2013

Eddie, As one of the first African American field Special Agents in the 1960's, your bravery from many aspects paved the way for a new FBI. While I didn't know you personally, stories, all good/maybe great, about you rippled throughout the FBI offices from the time you were assigned to DC. Your outstanding accomplishments in the FBI basketball league were well known. The news of that gunfire on the afternoon of Wed Jan 8, 1969 was met with disbelief and shock in the DC FBI offices. From a friend that knew you, during the months that followed I heard that you were always excited about everything you did, every day, and that you gave your all to the FBI and to your family. You were an extraordinary individual and you were certainly not forgotten. Every Christmas/New Years week I am reminded of the sacrifice that you and your family have made for me and my family. We will never forget.

R Robbins
FBI SOG 1969

October 15, 2012

In June 2012, I'll celebrate my 50th anniversary of graduating from Fordham University. Eddie and I graduated the same year, 1962. He was a downtown student while I attended the main campus in the Bronx.
We were both young FBI agents assigned to the Washington field office in 1967. Eddie was one of the first African American FBI agents. We were young, aggressive, and afraid of nothing. We played on the office basketball team and, in fact, had a championship game scheduled for the evening of January 8, 1968. Eddie had recently been assigned to the bank robbery squad at his request. He responded to a bank robbery that afternoon and died with another agent during a shootout with the bank robber. We all matured a lot during that evening's search for the killer. Eddie was the first, and I believe, the only African American FBI Agent enshrined in the FBI's Hall of Honor.
He is fondly remembered by his fellow agents and will be remembered at the Fordham Jubilee Mass.

Bob Quigley
FBI (retired)

May 16, 2012

Special agent Edwin Woodriffe's brother is my grandfather by marriage. I am a physician who has had to see 2 of my own patients killed (murdered) at the hands of criminals. Edwin, though it has been some time, there is no doubt emptiness in the hearts of the family and friends you left behind. I pray you are resting in peace. Thank you for your courage and ultimate sacrifice serving your nation.

Physician
great nephew in law

March 19, 2012