Tustin Triangle

This triangle honors Sergeant Henry James Tustin (1924-1970), a New York City police officer for over twenty years, who was shot and killed in the line of duty.

Henry Tustin was born on November 25, 1924 in Flushing, Queens, where he attended parochial school, then Flushing High School, after which he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1944. Tustin served during the final years of World War II. In May 1945, the year the war came to a close, Tustin married his wife, Lillian, with whom he had two children. Tustin later worked as a security guard in Parkchester in the Bronx and at the United Nations in Lake Success, New York, one of the places where the U.N. was located before moving to its permanent home in Manhattan.

In 1950, Tustin followed in his father’s footsteps, and joined the New York City Police Department. Tustin began in the 10th Precinct in Manhattan and, in 1960, was promoted to the rank of detective. In 1969 he became a Sergeant at the 32nd Precinct in Harlem, a position he held until his death. In 1968, Sgt. Tustin’s son James joined the force, serving until 1999 when he would retire as a detective in 103rd Precinct in Queens.

On November 9, 1970, Sgt. Tustin was on patrol in the 32nd Precinct when a witness who had observed a robbery by a man impersonating a police officer stopped Tustin’s patrol car. The man rode with Sgt. Tustin and Patrolman William Erickson in search of the perpetrator, who was found entering a taxi nearby. The two officers approached the car and ordered the impersonator to come out of the vehicle with his hands up. Upon exiting the vehicle, the suspect shot at Sgt. Tustin from point-blank range. Despite the fatal nature of his wounds, Tustin was able to fire at his assailant six times, striking him and allowing Patrolman Erickson to capture the suspect who was later charged with homicide.

Sgt. Tustin was the ninth officer killed in action in 1970 and was the first New York City Police Sergeant to be shot and killed in the line of duty. For his valiant actions, Sgt. Tustin was posthumously awarded the Departmental Medal of Honor on July 8, 1971. Tustin Triangle in Flushing was later named in his honor. The site was chosen because of its proximity to the neighborhood where Sgt. Tustin grew up.

Tustin Triangle is part of the Greenstreets program, a collaboration between Parks and the Department of Transportation whose goal is to convert paved street properties, such as triangles and malls, into green spaces. In 2000, Mayor Giuliani funded a $20,000 renovation of the triangle, adding three benches, four honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) trees as well as other plantings. Today the park adds greenery to the intersection of Francis Lewis Boulevard, Utopia Parkway, and 32nd Street, and honors a man who gave his life in the service of his community.