New York State to honor first female officer to die in the line of duty
Detective Reilly
We would like to thank Governor Paterson, New York State majority leader Dean Skelos, and New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver for passing the legislation. We would also like to make a special thank you to the bill sponsors Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. and Assemblyman David G. McDonough for sponsoring the legislation, as well as the entire New York state senate and Assembly for supporting it.
This law will dedicate the Merrick road overpass that crosses over the Meadowbrook Parkway in Freeport the “Detective Kathleen M. Reilly Memorial Bridge”. The location is near the spot where Nassau Detective Kathleen M Reilly was killed in the line of duty on the Meadowbrook parkway on December 25th 1967.
Detective Reilly was the first Nassau County female police officer to be killed in the line of duty as well as the first female officer to be killed in the line of duty in the state.
Kathleen Reilly, who grew up in Baldwin, made history in 1966 by becoming the first woman ever appointed to the Nassau County Police Department and the only female in the 1966 recruit class. She was assigned to the Juvenile Aid Bureau, and was often sent out to speak with community groups across the County about police work, an assignment not normally given to new officers. In her off-duty time, she helped tutor other policemen who needed help in their civil service tests. A year and a half after her entry into the Nassau County Police Department, she again made history when she became the department’s first female detective.
On Christmas Day in 1967, at about 5:55 p.m., Detective Reilly was traveling North Bound on the Meadowbrook Parkway in Freeport. At this time she observed an accident in which a car swerved and hit the center divider of the parkway as it tried to avoid another vehicle that was backing up. Detective Reilly exited her vehicle to render assistance to the driver of the disabled vehicle. At this time another vehicle struck the disabled car and in turn pinned in Detective Reilly. She suffered multiple cerebral contusions, subdural hemorrhage, and multiple compound fractures of the lower extremities. On December 25, 1967 at 6:20 p.m., Detective Kathleen M. Reilly, Shield# 265 was pronounced dead at Doctor’s Hospital in Freeport.
Detective Reilly was the first Nassau County female police officer to be killed in the line of duty as well as the first female officer to be killed in the line of duty in the state. She was 28 years old upon her death.
The bill becomes law on August 6th 2008
James Carver
President
Pete Paterson
1st Vice President
Legislative Chairman
Posted Saturday, July 12, 2008
Newsday Bias
Press Releases
PBA In The News
Editorials
(14.95MB)
