In 1966, Kathleen Reilly graduated from the police academy and made history by becoming Nassau County’s first female officer. According to a Facebook post by NCPD, she was given “Policewoman Shield #1” and assigned to the Juvenile Aid Squad.
The next year, she made history again when Reilly was promoted to Detective, another first for a female officer.
Sadly, Reilly was killed on Christmas night in 1967 in an off-duty accident. She was traveling on the Meadowbrook Parkway with her mother and fiancé when she stopped to assist a disabled motorist. Shortly after pulling over to help, she was struck and killed by another vehicle, according to NCPD.
The moment became another sad first, as Detective Reilly was the first female Nassau County police officer to be killed while in performance of police duties. She had less than two years on the job.
"She will never be forgotten,” the NCPD wrote.