Tribute To Victims Of Brinks Robbery Takes Place Sunday

Hundreds are expected to gather on Sunday at 4 p.m. to pay tribute to the two Nyack police officers and Brinks guard killed in the Oct. 20, 1981 Brinks armored truck robbery.

Family members of Police Officer Waverly Brown, Sgt. Edward O'Grady and Brinks guard Peter Paige and members of local, state and federal law enforcement will attend the 32nd annual ceremony at Brinks Memorial Park on Mountainside Avenue at the entrance to the southbound New York State Thruway in Nyack. 

O’Grady was the uncle of current Clarkstown Police Officer and PBA President John Hanchar who said the families greatly appreciate people attend the memorial even though they did not know the men who were killed. 

Hanchar said his uncle had served two tours in Viet Nam and returned home unscathed.

“I was very close with my uncle,” said Hanchar. “He left behind three kids.”

At the time of his uncle’s death, Hanchar said his cousins were three and six years old and three months old. The family later moved to Orange County. Hanchar said the shooting had a major impact on the victims’ families and people in Rockland.

“I think a lot of older Rocklanders will you that’s the day that Rockland changed,” he said. “It was not the country anymore.”

Paige was shot during the Brinks armored truck robbery at the Nanuet Mall and O'Grady and Brown were killed as they manned a roadblock to stop a getaway truck used in the robbery.

Orangetown Police Chief Kevin Nulty is the keynote speaker on Sunday. Hanchar said the service is not political and no politicians have been invited to speak.