Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Patrolman Gargan,
On today, the 75th anniversary of your death I would just like to thank you for your service and sacrifice-not just for your Community but for our Country as well when you served with the USMC during World War II. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

Semper Fi Devil Dog!
A fellow LEO;former Marine

Anonymous
United States Border Patrol

August 17, 2022

Rest In Peace , hero ! Never forgotten

Ret. Po ohara
Nypd mounted

August 17, 2021

Rest in peace always knowing that your memory, service and sacrifice will never, ever be forgotten by your law enforcement brethren.

Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police (Retired)

August 17, 2020

It’s a small world! I was assigned to the 6 Pct. in 1995 after my promotion to Sgt. I vividly remember Ptl. Thomas Gargan’s Memorial Plaque inside the 6 Pct. -During my time on patrol, we passed by 132 Bank St. where these brave Patrolmen responded. I could only imagine the fury of that call! Fast forward 2019, while dining in a local restaurant, I met Ptl Thomas Gargan’s great granddaughter Maeve. I was honored to meet her and inform her of her Great grandfathers’ memorials in the 6 Pct., NYPD Memorial Wall in lower Manhattan and in Washington D.C. -Never forgotten

Sgt. Margaret Anderson-retired 2004
NYPD

October 13, 2019

I did not know Ptl. Tom Gargan. He died before I was born. I learned of his sacrifice when I came on the Job. In the 70s I worked with his son Det Tom Gargan in the 88 Sqd. A terrific detective, he taught me a lot about investigations. I also came to know his grandson Mike another legend in the NYPD.

In a way I am connected more to Ptl Gargan than to his son and Grandson. We are Marine Corps brothers! I was surprised that his Marine Corps service was not mentioned in his official bio.

The NYPD Marine Corps Association honored Ptl Gargan and presented the Gargan Family with a plaque a few years back.

Rest In Peace Marine.

Semper Fidelis!

Capt. Joe Lisi
NYPD

August 18, 2019

Fidelis ad Mortem my elder Brother, Rest Easy

Det (ret.)
NYPD

August 17, 2019

Rest in peace Patrolman Gargan.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

April 4, 2019

Honor . . Reverence . .

Special Agent, ATF (Ret.)
Former Richmond, VA Police

August 18, 2015

Article in NY POST April 13, 2015

Treasure hunter returns slain cop’s shield to grandson

Treasure hunter returns slain cop’s shield to grandson
NYPD hero Thomas Gargan’s story is one for the ages, remembered in a comic book soon after his death — and again last week thanks to a treasure hunter’s find in a Long Island schoolyard.

Officer Gargan was fatally shot on Aug. 17, 1947, while responding to a radio call about a burglar in a row house at 132 Bank St. in the Village. A veteran of the Marines, Gargan, 42, was just months from retirement.

His story was brought to life in the November 1948 issue of “Heroic Comics,” which depicted 18-year-old Harris Gray blasting him point-blank with a flare gun he found in the house.

The comic book then shows Gargan’s partner, Gerard Hughes, firing at Gray. Three of Hughes’ bullets hit the suspect, but the wounds were not mortal. “Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot!” Gray begs in the next panel.

Gray died in January 1949 in the electric chair at Sing Sing prison. Gargan was posthumously awarded the Police Department’s Medal of Honor.

Fast forward to around 2000, when East Hampton resident Ronald King — whose hobby is sweeping the ground with a metal detector in search of coins, jewelry and other lost treasure — scoured the earth around a one-room schoolhouse in Sagaponack, LI.

Modal Trigger
Thomas Gargan (inset) depicted in the November 1948 issue of “Heroic Comics.”
There, in the soft topsoil where children have played since the 1880s, King found an NYPD badge, No. 16613.

He tossed the badge into a box of finds that seemed of little value.

Then he forgot about it until he was poking through the box a few weeks ago. “I said to myself, ‘I wonder who ever owned this badge?’ ” he recalled. So he typed the badge number into Google, and right away found a page about Thomas Gargan on NYPD Angels, a Web site dedicated to fallen police officers. King left a message on the page about his find: “I would love to return this to a family member.”

Mike Gargan, the hero officer’s grandson and a sergeant with the NYPD’s Emergency Service Unit, replied — and King mailed the badge to him last week.

Mike Gargan says the badge he received in the mail last week looks like a replica the department might have given his family after his grandfather’s funeral.

None of his living relatives know how it ended up in the dirt near the Sagaponack school.

Retired Police Officer
NYPD

April 12, 2015

To fully appreciate the heroes of the present, we must recognize our heroes of the past. Your heroism and service is honored today, the 66th anniversary year of your death. I am priviliged to be among the first to leave a tribute to you. Your memory lives and you continue to inspire. Thank you for your service. My cherished son Larry Lasater was a fellow police officer who was murdered in the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.

Time never diminishes respect. Your memory will always be honored and revered. Rest In Peace. I am sure you are proud that your family followed your legacy of protecting and serving and that your son garnered so much respect for his career.

Phyllis Loya
Mom of fallen California Officer Larry Lasater, Pittsburg PD, eow 4/24/05

February 24, 2013

I said a little prayer today for Patrolman Gargan and his family. He may be gone but never forgotten. He will always be a New York HERO.

Robyn Wilkes

August 10, 2009

The Gargan Family is one of the finest I have ever met. It is an honor to know them. I worked alongside with PO Gargan's son Bill for over 25 years and known him for 39 years ,the family is simply the best.
Bill Mauceri

William Mauceri, Ret NYS Courts
Family Friend

July 22, 2009

My partner for many years in the 83 sqd. and later (BK-CCIU) was Det. Thomas Gargan a son of Ptl Thomas Gargan. He was an outstanding Detective who taught me much. Unfortunately he also passed on in his mid fifties from a heart attack during his weekend swing. I have fond memories of him.

Dominick Filipponi
Det. NYPD Retired 115 sqd.

May 26, 2007

God Bless you and your family.

April 10, 2007

I was honored to have gone to your street naming ceremony. You will NEVER be forgot.


Thank you brother. Rest In Peace.

Police Officer
NYPD

August 22, 2006

I was a little girl at the time and lived two houses from the Gargans. Jimmy Gargan was my playmate. Even though I was only five, I remember the day of Officer Gargan's Funeral vividly, even though so many other memories from that time are gone. The street was filled with policemen and very orderly. I knew exactly what had happened to him and have never forgotten it. We owe a lot to him and to the men and women of NYPD. May he rest in eternal peace.

Sylvia Navon

March 8, 2006

I learned of Patrolman Gargan while assigned as a new PO in NYPD & assigned to the 6th Pct in 1967. I was curious enough to go into the archives of the 6th and read the original entries of the fateful day in the Pct 'Blotter". (A record book ,kept at the front desk, all activities of the day are recorded in this logbook)
From that time on, every day I passed the Bank St address, a silent salute was given in memory of Tom.
Tom was due to retire shortly, when he passed away. Never forgotten, Tom.

Ptl Dennis Conner Ret
NYCPD

January 31, 2006

I never knew Thomas. I was 3 years old when he was called 'home'.
I became one of NY's Finest in 1966 and was assigned to the 6th Pct. Many times I walked past Tom's Bronze Plaque in the entrance to the station house. I often wondered about him.
I found an old 'blotter' (Log book) and saw the entry of his death. It did not give much information. This site will keep his memory alive. He's still on patrol in the streets of Greenwich Village,watching over the officers that patrol today. I know Toms with the Finest of NY's Finest, that went before him.

PO DENNIS CONNER~~Retired
NYPD~~6th Pct