Photos by Jack Miller

The PBA takes care of its members, even those who have been dead for 140 years.

Pat Lynch and members of the executive board traveled to Monroe, N.Y., in Orange County on July 18 to place a wreath on Edward Dippel’s tombstone.

Patrolman Dippel, you see, was one of the New York City police officers killed in the line of duty during the infamous Civil War draft riots depicted most recently in last year’s Oscar-nominated movie, “The Gangs of New York.”

The problem is, Dippel’s supreme sacrifice has never been officially recognized. His name — and the names of others who deserve the honor — appear on none of the police memorial walls in New York City, Albany and Washington.

That should all change soon, thanks to the PBA’s efforts and the dedication of NYPD Sgt. Tom Carton, a Monroe resident. Carton began researching the details of Patrolman Dippel’s death after seeing a photo of the tombstone at the town hall four years ago.

Carton discovered that the 26-year-old Dippel was one of scores of officers of the Metropolitan Police Force who confronted anti-draft rioters storming the West 28th St. home of Horace Greeley, the newspaper publisher and abolitionist, on July 15, 1863. Dippel was shot in “friendly fire” — he caught a soldier’s bullet in the leg. He died four days later, leaving a wife (who died herself three years later) and one or two children (the record isn’t clear). Carton also discovered that Dippel’s name was missing from the lists of honor.

Carton’s research was complemented and confirmed by the findings of retired Sgt. Michael Bosak, a knowledgeable NYPD historian who has worked on Dippel’s case as well as correcting other historical oversights.

Monroe Township historian James Nelson also confirmed Carton’s research.

“He gave his life for the City of New York and to be forgotten is a disgrace,” says Carton. “Nobody even knows about him.”

PBA Transit Trustee Mike Morgillo brought the matter to Pat Lynch’s attention, and the PBA quickly became involved in seeing that Patrolman Dippel gets the long overdue recognition he deserves. The first event on the agenda was the wreath-laying ceremony at the Monroe Community Cemetery on the day before the 140th anniversary of Dippel’s death. The NYPD Emerald Society Drum and Pipe band led a procession of PBA board members and delegates, New York City police officers and members of the Monroe, Harriman, State Police and Orange County Sheriffs departments. State Senator Bill Larkin, Monroe Supervisor Sandy Leonard and many other local officials and townspeople participated.

“There were over 50,000 rioters in the streets of New York back in July, 1863, and Officer Edward Dippel was there to protect the civil rights of the citizens,” Lynch said in his graveside remarks. “On behalf of the 38,000 men and women of today’s New York City Police Department, who put their lives on the line every day, we’re here to remember one of our fallen. The tragedy of September 11 only serves as a reminder that we are here to protect our citizens even if it means making the ultimate sacrifice. We hope this will be a comfort to families, to know we will not forget them.”

And now, thanks to the few people who cared, the memorial walls in New York City, Albany and Washington will not forget Edward Dippel either. The department says the official recognition of his line-of-duty death is in the works.