Patrick Rafferty

New York City Police Department (NYPD) Detective First Grade Patrick Rafferty was killed in the line of duty on September 10, 2004. He was 39 years old.

Rafferty and his partner, Detective Robert Parker, were responding to a domestic violence call from a woman claiming her son was trying to steal her car. While trying to remove the suspect from his mother’s car, he grabbed Detective Parker’s service weapon and fired on the officers, hitting them each several times. Despite his mortal wounds, Rafferty was able to shoot the suspect, which later led to his capture. Ultimately, both Detectives died from their injuries. 

Rafferty’s childhood dream was to become a police officer. He attended the University of Central Florida and earned a degree in Criminal Justice. 

Rafferty joined the NYPD on July 5, 1989, and began his career on patrol in the Midtown Precinct North. He also worked in the Midtown South Precinct, both on patrol and the SNEU team, Queens South Street Crime Unit and was transferred to the 67 Detective Squad in 1999, the same year he was promoted to Detective. 

Throughout his career, Rafferty made over 400 arrests and was posthumously promoted to Detective First Grade. 

Rafferty had a great love for the outdoors, was an avid hunter, and enjoyed family camping trips in the Adirondack Mountains. 

NYPD Detective First Grade Patrick Rafferty is survived by his wife, Eileen, and their three children, Kara Elizabeth, Kevin Ambrose, and Emma Rose; as well as his mother, five brothers, and a sister. 

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation has paid off the mortgage of the Fafferty family home through the Fallen First Responder Home Program.