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Father and Son NYPD Officers Both Saved by Bulletproof Vests Decades Apart
The Yurkiw family's history of close calls highlights the dangers police officers face on the job.
Mar. 3, 2026 at 4:39am
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A father and son who both served as NYPD officers were each saved by their bulletproof vests in separate shooting incidents nearly 30 years apart. Paul Yurkiw was shot three times at close range in 1989 while assisting a motorist, but his vest protected him. Years later, his son Andrew Yurkiw was also shot while on duty in 2016, but his vest prevented serious injury.
Why it matters
The Yurkiw family's experience underscores the vital role that bulletproof vests play in protecting police officers and highlights the ongoing risks they face in the line of duty. The incidents also raise questions about officer safety, the prevalence of gun violence, and the challenges of policing in high-crime areas.
The details
In 1989, Paul Yurkiw, then an NYPD Emergency Services Unit detective, was shot three times at close range by a motorist he had stopped to assist. The bullets were stopped by Yurkiw's bulletproof vest. Years later in 2016, his son Andrew Yurkiw, an NYPD Anti-Crime Unit officer, was also shot while responding to a call, but his vest prevented serious injury. Both officers credit their vests with saving their lives.
- On June 21, 1989, Paul Yurkiw was shot three times while assisting a motorist.
- On February 20, 2016, Andrew Yurkiw was shot while responding to a call in Brooklyn.
The players
Paul Yurkiw
A 71-year-old retired NYPD detective who joined the force in 1982 and was shot three times in 1989 while assisting a motorist, but was saved by his bulletproof vest.
Andrew Yurkiw
The 39-year-old son of Paul Yurkiw, who followed in his father's footsteps and joined the NYPD in 2012. He was also saved by his bulletproof vest when he was shot while on duty in 2016.
Shawn Boyd
The man who shot Paul Yurkiw in 1989 and was convicted of attempted murder, serving 30 years in prison before being paroled in 2020.
What they’re saying
“I didn't think it would ever happen to me, because lightning never strikes twice in the same spot.”
— Andrew Yurkiw, NYPD Officer
“He took a .38-caliber Taurus revolver, pushed it up against my chest and hit me three times. The bullets ricocheted off the vest.”
— Paul Yurkiw, Retired NYPD Detective
“It worked in my favor.”
— Paul Yurkiw, Retired NYPD Detective
What’s next
The NYPD is expected to review its policies and procedures around officer safety and the use of bulletproof vests to ensure all officers are properly equipped and trained to handle dangerous situations.
The takeaway
The Yurkiw family's story highlights the vital importance of bulletproof vests in protecting police officers and the ongoing risks they face in serving their communities. It also underscores the need for continued investment in officer safety and training to help prevent such incidents in the future.
