45 Years Later: Remembering the Day That Shook Rockland County

Yisroel R.

Forty-five years after one of the darkest days in Rockland County’s history, police officers, firefighters, emergency responders, and community members will gather today, Tuesday, October 20, to remember three men who lost their lives during the deadly Brink’s robbery of 1981.

The annual memorial ceremony will take place at 4:00 p.m. at the Brink’s Memorial on Mountainview Avenue in Nyack, honoring Nyack Police Sergeant Edward O’Grady, Officer Waverly “Chipper” Brown, and Brink’s security guard Peter Paige, who were killed in the violent robbery and subsequent shootings that shocked the entire Rockland community.

The tragedy began on the afternoon of October 20, 1981, when a group of heavily armed radicals, believed to be affiliated with illegal militant organizations, carried out a planned robbery of a Brink’s armored truck outside the Nanuet National Bank at the Nanuet Mall. The attackers, connected to the Black Liberation Army and the May 19th Communist Organization, a group with ties to the former Weather Underground, opened fire on the security guards as they were handling a cash pickup.

Brink’s guard Peter Paige, 49, was shot and killed, while fellow guard Joseph Trombino was seriously wounded. The gunmen escaped with approximately $1.6 million in cash, setting off a massive police response across Rockland County.

As the suspects attempted to flee, police established a roadblock near the New York State Thruway entrance on Mountainview Avenue in Nyack. Officers stopped a U-Haul truck believed to be connected to the robbery, but as they approached the vehicle, armed suspects suddenly emerged and opened fire.

Sergeant Edward O’Grady and Officer Waverly Brown were fatally shot in the ambush, while other officers were wounded. What had begun as an armed robbery in Nanuet had turned into a deadly confrontation that claimed three lives and left Rockland County in shock.

The shootings sparked an extensive investigation and manhunt involving local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Several suspects were arrested that day, while others were captured during the investigation that followed. Those convicted received lengthy prison sentences, including life sentences.

The events of October 20, 1981, remain among the most tragic chapters in Rockland County’s history, leaving a lasting impact on the families of the victims, local law enforcement, and the community as a whole.

Today, 45 years later, the community will once again gather at the site of the deadly police ambush to honor the memory of Sergeant O’Grady, Officer Brown, and Brink’s guard Paige, remembering their sacrifice and ensuring that the events of that tragic day are never forgotten.

The public is welcome to attend the 4:00 p.m. ceremony. Mountainview Avenue will be closed between Route 59 and the Tappan Zee Manor entrance from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., with Clarkstown Police officers on scene to assist with traffic.