Police Officer Gary L. Peaco, New York City Housing Authority Police Department, New York

Police Officer Gary L. Peaco

New York City Housing Authority Police Department, New York

End of Watch Thursday, June 16, 1988

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Gary L. Peaco

Police Officer Gary Peaco was killed in an automobile crash while responding to an "officer needs assistance" call from two members of the New York City Police Department.

The two NYPD officers had just engaged four robbery suspects in a gun battle. The four males were suspected of stealing a gold neck chain at gunpoint from another man in the East Tremont section of the Bronx at about 5:25 am. During the shootout, the two officers left their vehicle to seek cover. When they did, two of the four suspects stole their police car and fled.

Officer Peaco and his partner were responding to the "10-13" call from the officers and were traveling north on the Grand Concourse near Echo Place when they passed an ambulance that was responding to an unrelated call. As they passed, the ambulance clipped the rear of their police car, causing it to spin out of control, strike a lamppost, then a tree, and burst into flames. Officer Peaco, who was driving, was thrown from the vehicle and landed 30 feet away.

Officer Peaco was transported to Jacobi Hospital but did not survive his injuries.

Police Officer Gary L. Peaco had served with the New York City Housing Authority Police Department for two and half years. He was survived by his wife and twin daughters.

Bio

Age 29
Tour 2 years, 5 months
Badge 4017

Incident Details

Cause Automobile crash

officer assistance, vehicle crash

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I am Jacqueline L. Peaco, the widow of officer Gary Peaco. I will forever remember my late husband. He was a holy man. He was kind, and he was gentle. He treated me and our children with such love, such tenderness. He would always put Christ first, and he would tell me that he wanted to be known as a friend to the people that he patrolled. We were friends for six years before we got married. During our marriage, we were so in love. I would ask my husband: “Please don’t ever change”, and he never changed; he was always a loving husband and father. I also admired the way he talked to other people. He would go out of his way to make people happy. Our twins are doctors, and really love the Lord. I no longer have my husband, but I am grateful that he left me two daughters to love and cherish. They remind me so much of him. We’ve been in the same home for more than 35 years, until the current day of January, 2025.

I also wanted to give honor to my mother, who quit her job to move to Orlando and help me raise my children and stayed here until my daughters became doctors. I know that my husband would have been so grateful that she was there for me and my children, when at the shock of his death, I could not function on my own. I also want to acknowledge Deborah Anderson, who also took this widow’s walk with me for many years and showed what true friendship was. My gratitude also goes to a man named Lynwood Cartwright III, who, although he lived in New York, would call just to make sure that my daughters and I were okay. Most of all, I would like to thank the New York City Police Department for providing financially my every need to this day.

Jacqueline L. Peaco
Officer Peaco’s widow

January 16, 2025