John Silinsky was a 58-year-old Yonkers police officer with 28 years’ service who was shot while working a second job as night manager at the Major Deegan Motel, 3600 Bailey Avenue in the Bronx. In the early morning of September 26, 1982, at about 12:20 a.m., he saw two armed men try to enter the motel and secured the door. Someone fired a 9mm semi-automatic pistol through the locked door and a bullet struck Silinsky in the head.

He was taken to a nearby hospital and died of his wounds four days later on September 30, 1982. An investigation led to an arrest and a murder charge, but the person accused was later found not guilty at trial.

If anyone knew Officer Silinsky, worked at the motel, or has information about the shooting, please share what is known.