Clifton A. Eastby was appointed to the force on January 1, 1953, and was promoted to Detective on July 28, 1961. On December 30, 1968, Eastby suffered a fatal heart attack while on the job and his death was deemed in the line of duty. He had served the NYPD for 15 years and was survived by his widow Antonia who passed away around 2009.
During his career, Eastby worked at the 15th Precinct, the 69th Precinct, the Communications and Records Division, the Photographic Unit, the 12th Detective District, the 74th Precinct Detective Squad, and the 1st Detective District, 7th Precinct Detective Squad.
As a Police Officer, Eastby wore shield #18138. When he was a Probationary Patrolman, Eastby and a partner, Det. Jerome P. Murray, captured a perp wanted for several crimes. At approximately 7:55 p.m. on January 16, 1953, the two were on duty and in the rear of a Western Union office at 923 Broadway in Brooklyn. A man entered and, holding his hand in his pocket while simulating a firearm, proceeded to rob the establishment. Once he saw the Officers, the perp fled, but was overtaken by Eastby and Murray, who placed the crook under arrest. The prisoner was identified for three additional similar crimes. Eastby was assigned to the 15th Precinct at the time while still in the Police Academy. He was temporarily working with the 83rd Squad where Murray was a Detective. For this arrest, Eastby and Murray were awarded a Meritorious Police Duty commendation on June 22, 1953.
When Eastby was a patrolman assigned to the Communications and Records Division, he participated in the capture of three armed perpetrators who had extensive criminal pedigrees. With Detectives Charles Giglio, Leonard Grittani, and Sam Rotkowitz of the 70th Squad, and fellow Communications and Records Division P.O. James J. McCann, at approximately 9:00 p.m. on April 6, 1959, the Officers pursued and apprehended three criminals fleeing the scene of two armed robberies they committed on Coney Island Avenue and Mermaid Avenue in Brooklyn. The perps, the Department discovered, committed 17 armed robberies in Brooklyn and Queens. On December 21, 1959, Eastby and his colleagues received Departmental Recognition for Excellent Police Duty.
