On November 27, 1963, at approximately 11:20 p.m., off-duty Det. First Grade Donald Rolker, riding home from his shift at the Midtown North Squad in Manhattan, was in the deserted first car of the Lexington Avenue IRT headed to Brooklyn. He was approached by four, young men who had the intentions of robbing him. As the train pulled into the last stop at Nostrand and Flatbush Avenues near the Rolker residence, three of the gang demanded Rolker’s money. As the Detective reached for his gun, the perps opened fire. Before he fell to the floor, Rolker got off one shot, wounding one of the perps, 19-year-old Allen McNeil, in the leg.
When the train doors opened, three of the perps ran upstairs and tried to commandeer a taxi, but the driver resisted. They shot him in the side. Several Patrolmen in the area heard the shots and ran to the victim, who was able to describe the shooter. McNeil was nabbed by police a short distance from the cab, and the others were arrested within hours.
Rolker died at the scene. His killing came on the heels of an unrelated Manhattan subway car shooting that occurred earlier in the day.
Rolker had been on the force since 1946. He was promoted to Detective in 1948, the same year he rescued a mentally ill man from the roof of a hospital. In 1953, he was promoted to first grade. His “Inspector’s funeral” was held at St. Vincent Ferrer’s Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn, and was attended by dignitaries and colleagues. He is interred at Pinelawn Cemetery in Farmindale, Long Island.
On May 13, 1964, three of the perpetrators were convicted and all given life sentences. The jury deliberated only 11 hours.
Rolker, age 42, was survived by his wife Helene, and other family members. He was described by those who knew him as, “a loving husband, who had strength and humor, always concerned about others in his family and community, always put a smile on a person’s face, and truly one of New York’s Finest.”
Read more about Det. Rolker on the following links:
Donald Rolker — NY Times 11-28 1963
Donald Rolker — NY Times 5-14-1964
