Patrolman Eric J. Verteramo Shield #91

Born: 1973
Appointed: September 13th 1998
End of watch: April 11, 2004

Officer Verteramo "Vert" joined the department on September 13th 1998 and was last assigned to the Bellevue section of the City of Schenectady. Ptl. Verteramo was a life long resident of the city and was well received by the community.

At about 7:10 PM on April 11, 2004, Officer Verteramo responded from Bellevue to a motorcycle - pedestrian accident at State and Furman Streets. While northbound on Broadway, about 500 feet north of Lower Broadway, Officer Verteramo lost control of his sector car while negotiating a sharp curve and struck a utility pole across from 824 Broadway. Schenectady Police and Fire Communications received multiple calls about the crash, and dispatched police and rescue personnel to the scene. The impact caused extensive damage to the sector car and Ptl. Verteramo had to be ext4ricated from the vehicle by Schenectady
Fire Department personnel. Ptl Verteramo was rushed to Ellis Hospital with head and upper-body trauma. A short time later, Officer Verteramo was airlifted by Med Flight to Albany Medical Center for further treatment. At 11:33 PM, Officer Verteramo died from his injuries.

The Funeral of Eric J. Verteramo

The Officer Down Memorial Page for Eric J. Verteramo

Patrolman William A. Koenige shield #109

End of Watch: February 12, 1979

On February 12th 1979 at 8:10 PM a woman and her father came to the police station to file a complaint of harassment against her ex-boyfriend Edwin Smith of 12 Harlu drive Scotia. At 11:00 PM investigator Donald called Smith and told him that he would like to speak to him at the station. Smith told inv. Donald that he would come down to the station to speak to him. About 20 minutes later Smith arrived at his ex-girlfriend's house with several weapons. When Smith knocked on the door of the apartment Mr. Rolchigo told Smith that his daughter was not home. Smith then fired a round through the door nearly missing Mr. Rolchigo.

Minutes later Patrolman Koenige responded and his partner Patrolman Lachanski (car 105) responded to the domestic trouble call on Baker Avenue. When the officers arrived at the address, they learned that shots had been fired from the upstairs flat of the two-family home. Ptl. Koenige went through the storm door and began climbing the stairs and ordering Smith to put his weapon down. Smith was hidden from view on the landing above Ptl. Koenige, a Smith began opening fire with a rifle. The bullets pierced the wall on of them ricocheted and struck Ptl. Koenige in the neck and knocking him down the stairs. Ptl. Lachanski dove on the porch and called for back up as a bullet wiz zed over his head. When Smith saw that he had shot an officer and he turned the rifle on himself and took his own life.

Chief Joseph A Peters said of Koenige, “he was very aggressive officer, he always did his job”

LT. John J. Cummings

Appointed: April 1st 1925
End of watch May 18th 1953


Lt Cummings Resided at 842 Stanley St. He was appointed to the department as a patrolman April 1 1925. He Made sergeant in 1945 and was named Lieutenant October 1952.

On May 18th 1953 Lt. Cummings was working midnight to AM platoon. His partner was Patrolman Clifford Wood who was operating the sector car. When returning from his lunch they took note of a vehicle with no plates on it. They began tailing it and a pursuit ensued. While Lt. Cummings was radioing in directions he had a heart attack and slumped over on his partner.

During his career his was cited for his efficient and courteous police work.

Patrolman William J. Hickey Shield #78

End of Watch: Friday, June 17, 1949

Ptl. Hickey was the 24 year old son of Sergeant William H. Hickey. Ptl. Hickey left Mount Pleasant high school a few months before graduation to join the armed forces. He returned home and was a veteran of world war II serving in the air force for 28 months 16 of which he spent in Europe serving as a Corporal.

On Friday June 17th, 1949 Ptl. Hickey was assigned to downtown as a motorcycle officer. At 2:00 pm a woman ran a red light and struck Ptl. Hickey causing him to be thrown from his motorcycle and strike his head on a iron utility pole. The impact caused his skull to fracture. Ptl. Hickey was taken to Ellis Hospital where he later perished from his injuries.

Ptl. Hickey was described by command officials as being "one of the most promising young officers of the department".

Patrolman Frank A. Quinlivan Shield #86

Born: 1895
Appointed: 1917
END OF WATCH: September 15, 1925

On September 15 1925 PTL. Quinlivan was attempting to arrest a notorious gangster and his gunman, Ralph Averaano at the Colonie inn on Albany Rd. Ptl. Quinlivan had been investigating the sighting of four gunman for the charge of robbing the proprietor and patrons of the Marwell house in south Schenectady earlier in the evening. Ptl. Quinlivan interrupted the thieves while they were dividing up the loot at a back table. The four had been on a robbery spree, hitting nightclubs and hijacking liquor shipments. A gun battle ensued. Averaano refused to put up his hands up and fired at Ptl. Quinlivan with a gun that was hidden under the table, hitting Ptl. Quinlivan twice in the chest. Ptl. Quinlivan emptied the four shots of his gun into Averaano mortally wounding him. Quinlivan himself fatally wounded stumbled forward about 14 feet firing at Averaano after which he fell to the ground unconscious. The dead man was a well-known gangster and gunman who was the prime suspect in
the murder of Captain Youmans and the fatal wounding of Ptl. Flynn, as well as a suspect in the murder of Sergeant Thomas PIL.. Oates of the Troy, NY, Police Department.

Patrolman John R. Flynn Shield #71

Born: 1898
Appointed: 1922
END OF WATCH: August 28, 1934


On the evening of November 28, 1924 at about 10:00 pm, the day after Thanksgiving, Captain Youmans and Ptl. Flynn were walking east on Edison Ave near Van Guysling Ave near the elevated railroad bridge . An assassin shot both Captain Youmans and Patrolman John Flynn. Shot by a 12 gauge shot gun Capt. Youmans had been wounded in his head, stomach, left hand and right knee. Ptl. Flynn received a bullet to his right ankle. Despite his injuries, Ptl. Flynn carried the Captain back to the 2nd Precinct at the intersection of Broadway and Edison Avenue where he summoned help. For the next ten years Ptl. Flynn worked for the department; however the wounds he received that day continued to plague him until he finally succumbed to complications in 1934. The "Roaring Twenties" were in full swing, and, like many other urban areas in the country, Schenectady had problems with prohibition. Capt. Youmans was known as a champion in the fight against speakeasies, gambling houses and other vice prevalent in that era.

 

Captain Albert L. Youmans

Born: 1877
Appointed: 1902
End of watch: November 28, 1924

On the evening of November 28, 1924 at about 10:00pm, the day after Thanksgiving, Captain Youmans and Ptl. Flynn were walking east on Edison Ave near Van Guysling Ave near the elevated railroad bridge . An assassin shot both Captain Youmans and Patrolman John Flynn. Shot by a 12 gauge shot gun Capt. Youmans had wound in his head stomach and left hand and right knee.
Ptl. Flynn received abullet to his right ankle. Despite his injuries, Ptl. Flynn carried the Captain back to the 2nd Precinct at the intersection of Broadway and Edison Avenue where he summoned help. For the next ten years Ptl. Flynn worked for the department; however the wounds he received that day continued to plague him until he finally succumbed to complications in 1934. The "Roaring Twenties" were in full swing, and, like many other urban areas in the country, Schenectady had problems with prohibition.

Capt. Youmans was known as a champion in the fight against speakeasies, gambling houses and other vice prevalent in that era.

 

Patrolman Jas. A. Mynderse

Born: 1857
Appointed: 1895
End of watch: March 31st 1900


Ptl. Mynderse was born in the town of Princetown in June of 1857. He resided at 14 Close St. with his family. He was appointed as a special in March of 1894 and was appointed a regular member of the department in March 1895. He was a credit to the department since his appointment.
In the late 1800s trains crossed State St. where it does today only at grade level. The tracks lay between Broadway and Erie Boulevard what was then the Erie Canal. On March 31, 1900 at six o’clock PM, Patrolman Mynderse was assigned to a walking post near the rail crossing. While he was standing near the Central flagman’s shanty, an Albany woman shopping in the downtown area was walking across the multi-track
street level train crossing when two New York Central trains, Engine No. 677 and Engine No. 1728 approached from opposite directions. The woman stopped in the middle of the tracks, paralyzed with fear. Ptl. Mynderse ran from his post, pushing the woman to safety just before a train would have struck her. Ptl Mynderse narrowly avoided being struck by the train himself and fell. He regained his footing however, he stepped backwards too far into the second set of tracks, and directly into the path of a New York Central fright on track 3. He was thrown under the westbound fright and his body was severed in two.

William Campbell, the Chief of Police, was quoted as saying of Ptl. Mynderse, "Fearless in the performance of his duties, he never thought of danger." Shocked and horrified by the tragic death of Ptl. Mynderse, the citizens, newspapers and Common Council demanded that the railroad elevate its train tracks in the city. Ptl. Mynderse was posthumously honored with the naming of a new city street after him. Mynderse Street was located off State Street in a new section of the city that was expanding eastward from downtown.