Park Police Seek Public Help Identifying Dirt‑Bike Riders Who Injured Officer in Rockaways

On September 2, about 2:30 p.m., a United States Park Police officer was trying to pull over a group of dirt‑bike riders inside the national park near Fort Tilden Chapel, in the Breezy Point section of the Rockaways. As the officer’s all‑terrain vehicle (ATV) moved to make the stop, the riders swerved and slammed into the ATV, sending it overturning onto the officer.

Witnesses say there were three riders on the bikes. The impact knocked the officer’s vehicle onto him, causing non‑life‑threatening injuries. He was whisked to a nearby hospital, where he was listed in stable condition.

In an effort to track down the individuals, the Park Police released three photographs Saturday, hoping that anyone who recognizes the faces or the bikes will come forward. The last known sighting of the trio was on Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn, according to the agency.

Fort Tilden, once a U.S. Army installation dating back to World War I, now sits within the Gateway National Recreation Area. The historic site, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, features a small theater, hiking trails, and the remnants of coastal batteries that once defended New York Harbor.

Authorities are urging anyone with information—no matter how small—to call the U.S. Park Police Tip Line at 202‑379‑4877. Even a quick glance at the released images could be the break needed to bring the riders to justice and prevent future incidents.