Four-times Cop of the Year, 36, shoots himself dead on patio of upstate New York restaurant
Newburgh NY Feb 2 2018 A 36-year-old NYPD detective shot himself dead outside an upstate New York restaurant over the weekend.
Local reports identified the officer as Detective Nicholas Budney, who shot himself in the head on Saturday night outside popular waterfront restaurant and bar Billy Joe’s Ribworks in Newburgh, New York.
Police sources told News 12 that Budney’s body went undetected until the next day, when Newburgh police found him Sunday morning at 11am on the outside patio of the restaurant.
Newburgh police said in a press release on Wednesday that his death was ruled as a suicide.
Budney was a native of Rock Tavern and according to his obituary, he attended SUNY Plattsburgh and John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
In 2005, the detective graduated from the New York City Police Academy ‘where he was a proud officer assigned to the 47th Precinct in the Bronx’.
Budney had served in the NYPD for 13 years.
He was also a member of Special Operations at the 47th Precinct and he was named Cop of the Year four times.
He was currently was assigned to the NYPD’s Emergency Service Unit Truck 3 in the Bronx.
Budney served as a member of the North Highlands Fire Department and was Fireman of the Year, according to his obituary.
He is survived by his wife Shannon Sheehan Budney, his parents and several family members.
Budney’s family and friends paid tribute to the fallen officer with heartfelt posts on social media.
‘Here’s a picture of my buddy living his dream. Every time ESU was on the news I would tell anyone who would listen, ‘That’s what my buddy Nick does!’ one of Budney’s friends wrote with a photo of the officer in action.
Another friend wrote: ‘There’s only a handful of people in my life who have made an impact on it like my friend Nick did.
‘Still doesn’t seem real to me that your gone, and it probably won’t for a long time. I’ll see you when I get there my friend… love ya bro.’
Several officers who worked alongside Budney posted images of NYPD badges with the black mourning badge over them.
The family is asking that in lieu of flowers, that the public make donations in Budney’s honor to NYC Detective Endowment Association Widows and Orphans Fund.
A funeral service will be held for Budney on February 3 in Cold Spring.
If you are concerned about any issues involving suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255