Monica Shoy, the mother of Vincentian-born New York Police Department (NYPD) Officer Deryck Shoy, said her son died suddenly on March 19, 2025. He was 45.

Mrs. Shoy, also a Vincentian native, told Caribbean Life on Friday, April 11, 2025, that Officer Shoy, who had resided in Jamaica, Queens, died at Queens Hospital Center in Jamaica, Queens.

“Deryck’s passion for law enforcement led him to proudly join the NYPD,” said Mrs. Shoy, stating that her son served with the NYPD for eight years, spending five years in a civilian capacity before becoming a police officer for the last three years, “where his commitment to justice and community service shone brightly.

“As a member of the NYPD, Deryck was a beacon of light in the community he served,” she added. “He was always willing to lend a helping hand, offering words of motivation and comfort to those he encountered,” she said. “His unwavering dedication to his work and compassionate approach made him a beloved officer among his colleagues and those he protected.

“Throughout his life, Deryck’s kindness, resilience, and willingness to serve others stood as a testament to his character,” continued Mrs. Shoy, who hails from Rose Bank, a village in the North Leeward section of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. “He was more than an officer; he was a cherished son, brother, uncle, brother-in-law, and friend who made a difference in the lives of everyone he met.

“His legacy of service, integrity, and selflessness will live on in the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing him,” she said, expressing deep sadness over “the sudden and unexpected loss.”

Mrs. Shoy recalled that, in their last conversation, Deryck told her, “I love you, Mommy.”

“Deryck was a loving and caring son,” she said, adding that she was “endlessly proud of the generous, compassionate man he had become.

“His kindness extended far beyond his family,” continued Mrs. Shoy, recalling that when she went to the bank, Deryck would ask her to get 10 $5 bills and 50 $1 bills for him – “money he would apportion weekly to offer anyone in need of a warm meal.”

After his passing, Mrs. Shoy said she “found the change neatly folded in his wallet, a quiet reminder of how he lived, always ready to give and always looking out for others.”

In the days following his passing, Mrs. Shoy said the NYPD “stood closely” by Officer Shoy’s family, “offering steadfast support at every step.

“In recognition of his service, he was honored by hundreds of his fellow officers,” Mrs. Shoy said. “His funeral service and interment included a solemn procession, the sound of traditional bagpipes, and a final salute. He was buried in full uniform.”

The funeral service occurred on Sunday, March 30, at Christ Pentecostal Temple in Jamaica, Queens. The next day, interment occurred at Pinelawn Cemetery in Farmingdale, Suffolk County, Long Island.

Mrs. Shoy thanked Bishop Derrick Farmer and members of Christ Pentecostal Temple for “the prayers, the love, and the spiritual covering” they provided.

“This church has been a home and a sanctuary, and we are grateful for your continued support in this valley of mourning and celebration,” she said, stating that, as a child, Deryck attended Sunday School at the church.

Officer Shoy’s younger brother, Deighton Shoy, a sergeant in the NYPD, said he was “saddened” about his brother’s sudden passing.

“I not only lost a brother in blood but a brother in blue,” he told Caribbean Life. “We won’t be conversing anymore about topics related to police work; we won’t give each other police-related equipment. I will miss those little things and many more moments shared together.”

Mrs. Shoy said Deryck Bernard Shoy was born to her and her late husband Saville Shoy in Cane Garden, Kingstown, the Vincentian capital, and raised in Richmond Vale, just outside the town of Chateaubelair in North Leeward, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Mrs. Shoy said Saville Shoy, who hailed from the village of Dark View in North Leeward, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, was a Richmond Hydro Power Plant manager.

She said Saville Shoy “passed away peacefully” at his home in Jamaica, Queens, in January 2013.

Mrs. Shoy said she and her husband raised Deryck and their other children with “strong values that shaped the man he became—an affectionate, hardworking individual who loved his family deeply and always put the needs of others before his own.”

Deryck attended the Petit Bordel Secondary School in North Leeward and migrated to New York in 1996 with his brothers—Antonio, Chris, Dwight, and Deighton — when he was 16 years old.

Mrs. Shoy said he later graduated with an Associate Degree in civil engineering from New York City College of Technology.

“He became known for his sense of humor, compassionate nature, and giving spirit,” she said. “His warm personality and caring heart left a lasting impression on all who knew him.

“Deryck’s spirit will continue to inspire through his acts of service, and his memory will live on in the lives he touched,” Mrs. Shoy added.

Officer Shoy is survived by his mother, Monica;  brothers, Antonio, Christopher, Dwight, and Deighton; nieces, Kaylyn, Kianna, and Jayda; nephews, Matthew and Logan; aunts, Carmine Alexander, Sandra Bowman, Linda Soleyn, Mariette Findlay, Pearly Shoy, Davey Roberts and Vilma Matthews; uncles, Lenford Bowman, Desmond, Errol, Paul, Dwight, and Steve Roberts; great-uncle, Parmie McKenzie; sisters-in-law, Jasmine, Krystalle, Nuria, and Verginia; best friends, Cameron Michael, Kelson William and Josiah Quashie; and many cousins, extended family members and friends.