Patrolman William J. Ramos, Jr.

William J. Ramos, Jr.

Patrolman William Ramos was shot and killed after discovering a robbery in progress at 1:30 a.m.

Patrolman Ramos was walking a foot post when he observed a man and a woman leaving a hotel. When the suspects observed the officer, the male suspect drew a weapon and exchanged gunfire with him. Patrolman Ramos and the suspect were both struck three times. Patrolman Ramos was taken to Kings County Hospital, where he died from his wounds.

The suspect recovered from his wounds and was charged with murder. He was convicted and sentenced to death, with the conviction later overturned by the United States Supreme Court. The suspect was convicted again after a second trial and sentenced to death again. That sentence was commuted by Gov. Nelson Rockefeller in November 1967. He was paroled in 1983 after serving 23 years in prison. He later returned to prison, where he died while serving for unrelated convictions.

Patrolman Ramos was a United States Marine Corps Korean War veteran and served with the New York City Police Department for 18 months, assigned to the 80th Precinct. He was survived by his wife and brother.

Patrolman Ramos was posthumously awarded the News Hero of the Month in July 1960.