National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

Officer Rank: Police Officer

Memorial Panel: 32-E: 1

Department: Nyack, New York, P.D.

End of Watch: October 20, 1981

Cause: SHOT

Age: 45

Years of Service: 14

Description: Officer Brown and Sergeant Edward O'Grady were shot and killed after stopping a truck wanted in the Brinks robbery/murder in which $1.6 million was stolen. A Brinks armored car at the Nanuet Mall was robbed by members of the Black Liberation Army and the Weather Underground. The gunmen fled, ditching their getaway car for a waiting U-Haul truck being driven by co-conspirators. An occupant of the U-Haul, complained to the police that their guns made her nervous. Apparently, thinking they had the wrong U-Haul, the police stowed their weapons and shotgun. At that moment, the rear of the U-Haul flew open and half a dozen heavily armed killers jumped out, each with military-style fully automatic weapons. Officer Waverly Brown was shot and died at the scene. Sergeant O?Grady was shot several times and died at the Nyack Hospital. Eleven of the suspects received sentences ranging from 12 to 100 years in prison. One of the suspects, Kathy Boudin, was paroled after serving 22 years.