Troop T - October 24, 1974
Trooper Emerson J. Dillon died October 24, 1974, after being shot by armed robbers. He was 38 years old at the time.
Trooper Dillon stopped a speeding car on the Thruway near Canastota, unaware the occupants fled the scene of an armed robbery. While one subject fought with Trooper Dillon, a second subject shot him. Before he died, Trooper Dillon fired two shots at the suspects' vehicle, striking it once. The two subjects were apprehended later and the murder weapon recovered. The investigation lead to the arrest of a third subject the following day in New York City.
Trooper Dillon joined the Division in 1958 and had been assigned to Troop T for 12 of his 16 years.