PO Alex Bodnar, NYC Transit Police, 8/3/1990

On August 3, 1990, retired Police Officer Alex Bodnar, 49, who served in the New York City Transit Police Department, District 3, was home with his wife Pat.  In the early morning hours, while the Bodnars were sleeping, an intruder, Ronald Cummings, broke into their home and entered their bedroom.  Cummings pulled a knife and demanded money from the couple. Officer Bodnar retrieved a sum of cash and gave it to the intruder, but Cummings stabbed the Officer and began to attack his wife.  Bodnar, a 22 year veteran of the NYC Transit Police, was able to crawl to the bathroom and retrieve his revolver. In response, Cummings released Mrs. Bodnar and went after her husband, stabbing him 5 more times. Officer Bodnar was able to shoot and kill his assailant, but then succumbed to his own injuries and died.