Crime & Safety

NYPD Mourns Death Of Queens Police Chief Steven Silks

Queens North Deputy Police Chief Steven Silks died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound Wednesday, weeks before he was due to retire.

Queens North Deputy Police Chief Steven Silks died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound Wednesday.
Queens North Deputy Police Chief Steven Silks died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound Wednesday. (Photo: NYPD)

FOREST HILLS, QUEENS — Queens North Deputy Police Chief Steven Silks died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound Wednesday after nearly 40 years with the NYPD. He was 62.

Silks was scheduled to retire from the police force in July, according to the New York Post. He was just shy of the NYPD's mandatory retirement age of 63.

"He was a one-of-a-kind, well-accomplished individual & an amazing storyteller," Assistant Chief Martin Morales, commanding officer of the Queens North patrol bureau, wrote on Twitter.

Find out what's happening in Forest Hillsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

First responders found Silks on Wednesday evening in a car in Forest Hills, just blocks away from his office at the 112th precinct station.

Silks was rushed to Elmhurst Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Find out what's happening in Forest Hillsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

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