JIM CIRILLO KILLED IN CAR WRECK
July 13th, 2007 by Syd
Gun expert dies in Brookfield accident
July 13, 2007
By Jennifer FuscoBROOKFIELD — A well-known gun expert and author was killed and another man injured in a tractor-trailer-car collision Thursday night, according to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.
James Cirillo, 76, of West Edmeston, was driving west on Welsh Road around 7 p.m. when his vehicle entered Route 8 into the path of an 18-wheel tractor-trailer driven by Christopher Madison, 36, of Richardson Avenue in Utica, deputies said.
The tractor-trailer struck Cirillo’s vehicle on the driver’s side, deputies said.
Cirillo died at the scene. Madison was treated for back injuries at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Utica, deputies said.Cirillo taught numerous firearm classes and wrote several books, including “Guns, Bullets, and Gunfights: Lessons and Tales From a Modern-Day Gunfighter.” He also had several videos.
Violet Jimenez, Cirillo’s partner of nine years who lived with him in West Edmeston, said he was a renowned firearms instructor and a retired New York City police officer.
“If you check the Internet, you’ll find everything about him,” she said. “He was a very humorous man and loved his hunting and fishing. He was just a very vibrant person.”
According to Amazon.com, Cirillo spent many years with the New York City Police Stakeout Unit and participated in more than 250 armed encounters. He also spent years as a firearms instructor at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.
Since retiring from law enforcement, Cirillo has conducted periodic firearms training courses, the site states.
Witnesses to the accident told deputies that Cirillo’s car appeared to enter Route 8 to possibly make a U-turn. He apparently did not realize the tractor-trailer was rounding a curve near the intersection, deputies said.
Guide rails prevented both vehicles from going over a steep embankment, deputies said.
Deputies, along with the Sheriff’s Office accident reconstruction team and evidence specialists, are continuing their investigation today.
No charges have been filed against Madison, deputies said. Source: UTICAOD.COM
Jeff Cooper called him ‘Cirillo the Great’. Massad Ayoob said he was one of the great law enforcement gun-fighters of our time. Few firearms instructors, if any, could match the cumulative street combat experience that Jim Cirillo offered to students.
As a member of the New York City Stake-Out Squad (1968-1973) Jim Cirillo’s only job was to confront the most hardened and dangerous armed criminals in the city. During this time he was involved in seventeen shootouts and more armed confrontations than can be counted. During the years following his retirement from the NYPD Cirillo worked as a firearms instructor for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center from 1976-1991. This vast experience comes through in the writings and instructional video Jim produced.
Once he retired, Jim Cirillo taught the serious student the skills, tactics, and techniques of survival that kept him alive in the streets. He offered his time to do so out of a strong sense of obligation and dedication to officers and armed civilians.
See also: Xavier’s memories of Jim
Sorry for the loss of Mr. Cirello.
As the Range Master / Sniper from Monticello Police Department Monticello,NY I shot with Jim in the 70’s when I was just a young Police Officer. Back in the day Mr. Cirello and the Stake Out Squad was the Icon of the day, and the officers that served in that unit did make a differance.
So long old friend
“Semper Fi” from an old Marine
Respectfully
Senior Detective Douglas B. Tunno
It was my great privelege to attend one of Jims courses. He was the best instructor I have ever seen and was a great guy to have lunch with too. A wealth of info, unexcelled, and a man with a great love of life. He will be missed.
Sgt. Glenn Shaw (Ret)
Firearms Instructor
He was a good friend and colleague. Jim helped me with some of his great ideas and experience in the 70’s to develop some innovative products. He will be surely missed.
May he sit at the feet of the Great Rangemaster in the sky. (When he’s not helping Saint Michael,that is.)
I met Jim through my brother Steve Laymon. In the several years I’ve known Jim he’s been a great friend. I greatly morn the loss of our friendship and many great conversations. Terry Steele, Officer, NYS DOCS.
I met Jim at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. After retiring from NYPD, he was the U.S. Customs Rangemaster in NYC, until he took the position with FLETC. I shot with him in several PPC matches - but never beat him.
A great shooter and a nice guy. We did not agree on all things, but he was always a gentleman, in all meanings of that word.
Seth R. Nadel
Sr. Special Agent
U.S. Customs (Ret.)
I have some fond memories I’d like to share of Jim. We served together at F.L.E.T.C. in the 1980’s at the Firearms Training Division.
Three different occurrences come immediately to mind when I reflect back about our times together at FLETC.
The first took place one rainy afternoon on Range 3. We were waiting for a class to come out of the classroom and were hit by a deluge. It was one of those incredible Georgia storms where it seems as though one is standing under a water fall. It was raining so hard, in fact, that Jim and I had retreated to the top of the bleachers to escape it.
I told Jim about how we often demonstrated shooting rain drops for the Border Patrol classes and that it wasn’t hard to do, just a matter of simple probability if it was raining hard enough. Jim was all for it so we loaded up, put on our ear and eye protection and started shooting at the back stop 70 yards away though then rain. I hit the first rain drop and it instantly turned into a little white cloud about 6” in diameter. Then Jim hit one. It was like two little kids playing in a mud puddle, and before we were done Jim had set a new “National Rain Drop Shooting” record by hitting three with one shot!
The second took place one afternoon when everybody but Jim and I had gone home for the day. He stuck his head into my office and said with a mischievous look, “Hey, I want to show you something.”
I followed him into the empty parking lot to see what he was up to. He loaded what looked like a tear gas gun with some BIG cartridge, pointed it up in the air and pulled the trigger. There was a soft “whump” and then nothing. I looked up to see what he had shot and then there was an incredible explosion above us!! It was so strong that my head felt as though I was a turtle trying to pull it back into my shell. Jim had this humongous smile on his face and simply said, “Cool huh?” Turns out he was somehow launching artillery simulators with that 39mm gas gun. Great fun.
Some weeks later on a Saturday afternoon I was practicing on range three and saw a Sheriff’s unit come screaming into the range parking lot. The deputy jumped out and asked if I had seen or head a plane crash. I replied in the negative, but the following Monday asked Jim if he just might know something about it. He tried to look innocent asking me why I should ask, but I could tell from the look on his face what had happened. Sure enough, just for the heck of it, he had walked out on to his patio launched one and then stepped quickly back inside. That was Jim.
Great guy. I will indeed miss him.
Kent Williams (US Border Patrol - Retired)
Stories of Jim Cirillo’s exploits were commonly recounted
at Massod Ayoob’s Leathal Force Institute. For those of
us learning gunfight survival techniques, there are no
better intructors than those that have “been there”
and survived - again and again! Mr. Cirillo’s strategies
and techniques will most likely be saving lives for many
years to come.
Uncle Jim was one of the funniest people I have ever met,everyone around him was always laughing. The fundamentals of shooting that Uncle Jim taught me at such a young age enabled me to breeze thru my firearms training at SPD academy with PERFECT scores !! Im sure,without a doubt there must be many policemen that are alive today because of Uncle Jims expert shooting or his training ! Uncle Jim you were the greatest !!! I’ll miss you Love Craig
I had heard of Jim from Massad Ayoob and then met him when he was stationed at FLETC, and was able to call him a good friend. Shot PPC and IPSC with him and enjoyed listening to his stories and hear of his many different firearms projects and experiments. My lasting memory will be of going to his house in Brunswick and into his den, where there was a Star reloader set up on the coffee table, primers, bullet and powder scattered about, and his wife making us all ice cream sundaes. He was a great guy, a great friend and he will be missed.
My wife and I attended one of Jim’s classes at MTG in IL.
Outstanding!! Very pleasurable learning experience. All of the good guys will miss him.
Mike and Helen Howard, KY
NEVER MET HIM BUT HAVE HIS VIDEO AND IT WAS A REVELATION. I LEARNED MUCH FROM THAT AS I TO HAVE SHORT FINGERS.
GO WITH GOD.YOU WILL BE MISSED.
Jim was a good friend and mentor. I shot many matches with him in the 70′ & 80’s. We shared many memories of police and competative shooting days. He will be greatly missed.
Mark Doneburgh
GLOCK Professional, Inc
FIrearms Instructor
A few years ago I was at the Shot Show in Las Vegas, when I happened by the the Dan Wesson booth. There sat the man I had heard and read about all my life, Jim Cirillo. I did a double take and said “Hey your Jim Cirillo” he smiled looked at my ID tag and said “yes and you are ………….. Chainsaw? I said that’s what they call me”. Jim said “well at least my parents thought enough of me to give me a normal name”.
30 minutes later when I walked away I felt like I had meet a friend I would never forget, and I won’t. I’ll see you on the other side Jim and we will pick up where we left off. God be with you,
J. Craig “Chainsaw” Hudson
I was real sorry and saddened to hear of the traggic passing of Jim. As a LE firearms instructor, I have quoted him on many occasions to new Police Academy recruits. Even though I never had the pleasure of meeting him, he left a lot of experience through his book and videos. He will be sadly missed in the Tactical Firearm community.
It is Sept. 10 and I had lost touch with my uncle Jim every since my Aunt Mildred died. I did not know of her death until 4 months after when I somehow got a hold of Uncle Jim who was in such great sorrow. (my maiden name is Gail Mills) daughter of Gladys Morel. I was doing an internet search trying to remember where Uncle Jim lived and in doing so was directed to this news of his death. How very sad that he died so tragically. I loved my uncle. He was so funny and I remember the early days when we’d visit him and Aunt Mildred in Brooklyn when Margie and Jimmy were little kids. I was fascinated by all the guns and all the pictures of his body building and I never every so so many trophies in my young life! I had a sad life growing up in my home with the father and stepfather my mother had married. The only true happiest memories I have in those hard years is when Jim and Mildred would visit us in New Jersey. He’d take us target shooting and I even learned how to hit a bottle off of an old couch! I love you Uncle Jim, I know you are seeing dear Mildred now. You will be remembered in my prayers and in masses I will have said for your souls. I miss my Aunt Olga, and my cousins, Marge, Jim, Craig and Alan. If you see this how I long to know where you are in your life! Please try to get in touch with me or respond on this website and I’ll try to call you! I married in 1970 and had 3 kids, was divorced, then went on to marry again a wonderful man who I have 2 kids with. We have been married 21 years. Yes, your cousin has had 5 kids ranging in age from 17 to 32! I am a grandmother twice now, with two wonderful little boys - Zach and Angelo, 18 mos and 7 mos! I am happy and fulfilled in my life with a deep commitment to the Lord. We are practicing Catholics and because of our faith we know who holds the future, even when we don’t know what the future holds. May Jesus and Mary hold the souls of our dearly departed aunt and uncle forever in their sacred hearts! Let me hear from you my family! Love, Gail
Craig or Alan, Margie and Lil’ Jimmy - please let me hear from you. My condolences in the loss of dear Uncle Jim. Gail at gail_f_miller@yahoo.com
We first met Jim at an Advanced Firearms Instructor course sponsored by Mike Conti of Saber Group in 1998. It was two days of class and range training, and because of his teaching style and mannerisms, so much was learned in such a short period of time. To me, Jim will always be the guy from Brooklyn. There were two things that stood out about Jim, that head of white hair and that devilish smile of his. I find it very difficult for me to speak of Jim in the past tense. We will miss him dearly. Jimmy Cirillo, we’ll all meet again one day…maybe at another one of your courses…
Carl, John, and Pete
I was partnered with Jim’s Stake Out Unit partner, Bill Allard when we where assigned to the NYPD’s Emergency Service Unit Squad 1…(Trk 1) I got to know Jim (Jim was assignrd to Sqd6/Trk6) and he was one hell of a nice guy, an awesome police officer and a good friend, rest in peace Jim.
I’m the daughter of Steve Laymon. Jim is my dads best friend. My dad was always doing things for jim weather it was mowing the lawn, feeding the fish in the pond, going fishing with Jim and his grandchildren, helping him around the house, or even just going up for his good cappachino. My dad would always say he was going to mow jims lawn or do something and that he would be back in a “couple of hours”, but my dad NEVER went up there for only a “couple of hours” espically when they for shooting guns. My dad always thought the world of Jim and loved to go up there for dinner and to just visit.
I got to know Jim very well myself, Violet needed someone to help her do things around the house. I loved going up there, even though Jim was usually on the phone with someone talking about guns or hunting or fishing and whatever else. He would always make me feel like I was home, he would tell me stories about his grandkids and tell me I got to meet them and how great they are, he would also tell me stories about when he was young. And let me tell you he became a very successfull man.
Jim you are greatly missed not only by my father and I but also my family. You will always be in our heart and will NEVER be forgotten!!!!
I read all of Jim’s books, and have used his videos to train Federal Special Agents in firearm’s tactics.
I have spoken to Jim over the phone on several occasions but never met him personally; however, whenever I spoke to Jim he talked with as if I was a friend for life, a fellow Peace Officer brother! Jim autographed all his books, gave me his home address, and invited me to visit whenever I wanted. This was all without him ever meeting me. I wish I would have visited Jim as today I learned of his death. I am however not in despair as I believe Jim believed in God, as it showed in whatever he did. I will not say good bye my friend, I will only say, “see you later.” May God keep you in his care! May peace, love, and hope be with his surviving family, always! With God’s love! Wendell Espeland, SAIC U.S. DOT/NHTSA/OFI, Midwest Region. (Former INS Special Agent, New York, New York, 1998 to 1994, and FDA/OCI Agent Kansas City, 1994 to 2005)
For years in the late 60’s and early 70’s I shot with Jim every tuesday night at the Tenafly Rifle and pistol club . We would shoot till 2 or 3 AM and then go to the diner for breakfast accompanied by my close friends Richard Hirsch and Harry Christian , both great combat shooters also . Tuesday night was reserved for Police combat shooting practice and instruction . We all enjoyed Jim’s comedy and stories about his week on duty as a stakeout squad officer . I know that everyone that he touched in some way will miss him and even though I have not seen him for over 30 years I also will miss him . I have , over the years told hundreds of people about him and his close calls and tough duty he carried out . He certainly influenced me to be a Police Firearms Instructor and become a part time local Deputy Sheriff to train Police and Deputy’s . Jim , I will never forget you !
I never met Jim,but had the honor of shooting with Bill Allard in Aug ‘05 at an FBI Tactical Pistol Course at the SCPD range in Westhampton,LI……I can only assume that like Bill, Jim was the last of the old gunfighters and we will not see the likes of them again. Rest in Peace and I’m sure Jim you’re exchanging stories with the likes of Bill Hickok, John Wesley Hardin and some names we’ve never heard of! Say hello to Col.Cooper for us too!!
As a surgical intern at Kings County Hospital ( Brooklyn) I met and treated Jim in 1973 for a minor GSW of the leg. As a life long shooter, I read about him as his fame increased, and never forgot that brief encounter. I’m sorry to her of his death.
It was my great privilege while employed at Dan Wesson Firearms in Norwich, NY, to meet and get to know the “Greek God.” My wife, youngest son and I tremendously enjoyed our visits on his farm not far from our home, shooting with Jim and learning from him his very innovative approach to tactical shooting with his “Smith and Dan,” his one-of-a-kind Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum revolver with a Dan Wesson barrel assembly he had made to get the best action with the best accuracy. A fascinating recounter of his days on the NYCPD Stake-out Squad, I always looked forward to his visits to my office at Dan Wesson Firearms whenever he came up to his farm. He will be greatly missed in the law enforcement, firearms, shooting media, and tactical shooting world.
Jim was a dear friend and I was priviledged to take his survuval Index courses and to teach the Rochester Police Department and SWAT team with him. He was a truly kind soul who always put others and especially their safety before his own. He had a special friendship with our daughter Camille and he and Mildred ate dinner at our home for three nights in a row while we worked together in Rochester. Each night was funnier than the one before.
On a professional level, Jim was the most competent defensive tactics instructor you will ever meet and I have studied under some of the best in this country. I will never forget what he taught me and the short and wonderful moments we spent together. God Bless Jim and safe journeys.
I was hired as a firearms instructor at FLETC in early 1990. During my early days of learning the system at the Firearms Division I would find some old hands who were especially helpful to the “newbie”. Jim was one of those fellow and it wasn’t just being helpful, Jim was honestly interested in helping. Jim’s downed officer course of fire was a master student experience for me being introduced to that aspect of firearms training by a true pro. Over the years, until Jim retired after an on the job injury, I got many gems from Jim and I also stole tricks and stories where I could. Jim will be missed. Jim was a hero.
I never had the privilege to know Jim Cirillo, much less meet
him, or any other gun writer for that matter. However, I have
read articles in gun magazines about him. I just happen to
own several classic Smith and Wesson K and N-Frame revolvers:
a Model 15 .38 Special Combat Masterpiece, a Model 66 .357
“stainless” Combat Magnum, and a S&W Model 28 .357
Magnum Highway Patrolman and other firearms. The only
things that have been killed by my handguns are a few
Blacktail Jack Rabbits, a Yellow Belly Marmot (Rockchuck),
or other rodent mammal. Therefore, though I strongly
believe in an honest citizen being armed and able to protect
themselves, I have never pointed a gun at another person.
And hopefully never will. Though I never knew Jim Cirillo my
sympathy extends to his family, friends, and loved ones. Last
year (May 2008) I lost my mother so I know what it’s like
to lose a loved one. Especially in somethings as traumatic
as a car accidents. May Jim Cirillo lie in rest.