On February 24, 1980, 34-year-old Police Officer Seraphin Calabrese was killed during an attempted arrest at the Columbus Circle subway station in New York. A nine-year veteran of the New York City Transit Police assigned to Transit District 1 and a U.S. Army veteran, he was trying to arrest a man for evading a 50-cent fare when, during a struggle, the suspect gained control of Officer Calabrese’s handgun and shot him fatally. A nearby transit officer intervened and apprehended the 29-year-old suspect at the scene.

Officer Calabrese was survived by his wife, daughter, and stepdaughter. His funeral drew numerous fellow officers. On January 20, 1981, the suspect was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 15 years to life. Five days after Calabrese’s funeral, another officer, Irving Smith, was also shot and killed while responding to a robbery.

If anyone remembers Officer Calabrese or witnessed the 1980 incident at Columbus Circle, please share what you know.