Detectives Remembered on the 50th Anniversary of their Death

50 years ago on this day two detectives from the 71st Precinct made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. While investigating a complaint, detectives James A. Don­egan and Salvatore Potenza came under fire and were both killed. On the anniversary of their passing, family, friends and law enforcement gathered to remember their sacrifice.

Late Thursday night, October 15, 1964 at around 12:15am, detectives James A. Don­egan and Salvatore Potenza were investigating a domestic violence complaint. The detectives went to an apartment at 1632 Hendrickson Street in Brooklyn, where the suspect was staying.

Upon arriving the suspect shot both detectives through the apartment door, killing them both. The suspect later took his own life.

Today, marking the date of their death, family, friends and law enforcement members got together at the 71st Precinct – where both detectives worked – to commemorate the date of their passing and rededicate their memorial plaque, which hangs in the entrance to the precinct.

Among the attendees were family members of the detectives, both current and past commanding officers of the 71st precinct, Deputy Inspector George Fitzgibbon and Jack Lewis, representatives from police headquarters at One Police Plaza and Brooklyn South.