On March 21, 1977, Sergeant Michael R. Palese was struck and killed by a train while conducting a search for a missing child.
Sergeant Palese was participating in an emergency plan to find a missing six year old girl. Sergeant Palese searched the railroad tracks near the child’s home. Heavy and blowing snow made visibility difficult. While searching near a railroad bridge, Sergeant Palese was too late to notice an approaching commuter train. Sergeant Palese was struck and killed by the oncoming train.
He was survived by his mother.