Our Heroes
Name:Michael Morgan, Jr.
Rank:Detective
Badge:43
End Of Watch:Monday, November 7, 2011
Age:32
Service:6 years, 6 months
Cause:Gunfire
Incident Date:2011-11-07
Narration:
Detective Michael Morgan was shot and killed while attempting to take action during a robbery while he was off duty in Paterson, New Jersey.
He and several friends were visiting a club on Straight Street. While outside, speaking to an employee, a suspect approached and attempted to rob the two at gunpoint. Detective Morgan attempted to take action but was shot once in the side as he reached for his weapon.
Responding units from the Paterson Police Department transported Detective Morgan to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his wound.
The suspect fled the scene, however, the shooter and his girlfriend were arrested two days later in a hotel near Philadelphia. Both have been charged with felony murder, robbery, and weapons charges.
Name:Tommaso Popolizio
Rank:Sergeant
Badge:305
End Of Watch:Saturday, March 3, 2007
Age:33
Service:12 Years
Cause:Vehicle Pursuit
Incident Date:2007-03-03
Narration:
Sergeant Tommaso Popolizio died from injuries sustained when his patrol car rolled during a vehicle pursuit. At approximately 3:00 am Sergeant Popolizio responded with several officers to a call of drag racing on Doremus Avenue. The officers arrested a male after seeing him throw a gun into a bush. He was handcuffed behind his back and placed in the back seat of a squad car. The suspect was able to move his hand to the front of his body and climb through an opening in a Plexiglas partition. The suspect then stole the patrol car. Sergeant Popolizio pursued the suspect in a marked Ford Explorer SUV. During the ensuing chase the stolen police vehicle and Sergeant Popolizio's SUV collided near the corner of Doremus Street and Wilson Street. Sergeant Popolizio was taken to Univeristy Hosptial where he later died from his injuries. The suspect was sentenced to 30 years in prison after being charged with aggravated assault and manslaughter.
Name:Melvin Lisojo
Rank:Police Officer
Badge:2303
End Of Watch:Tuesday, June 24, 2003
Age:35
Service:5 Years
Cause:Vehicular assault
Incident Date:2003-06-24
Narration:
Officer Lisojo was killed in an automobile accident when his patrol car was broadsided by a driver that had run a red light at Bergen Street and 18th Avenue. The driver of that vehicle was later found to be intoxicated. Officer Lisojo was the passenger in the second of three patrol cars responding to a shots fired call at 0200 hours. As Officer Lisojo's patrol car entered the intersection, it was struck broadside, causing it to flip onto its side. Officer Lisojo and his partner were both transported to University Hospital in critical condition. Officer Lisojo succumbed to his injuries a short time later. The driver of the vehicle that struck the patrol car was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide, recklessly operating a vehicle and driving while intoxicated.
Name:Dewey Joe Sherbo, III
Rank:Police Officer
Badge:1503
End Of Watch:Sunday, November 9, 1997
Age:31
Service:3 Years
Cause:Vehicular assault
Incident Date:1997-11-09
Narration:
Officer Sherbo was killed when his patrol car was intentionally rammed by another vehicle during a vehicle pursuit of a stolen car. Officer Sherbo's patrol car burst into flames upon impact. He was transported to a local hospital where he remained in critical condition for 20 hours before succumbing to his injuries.
Four suspects were apprehended at the scene of the crash. The suspect who was driving was sentenced to 15 years.
Officer Sherbo had been with the agency for 3 years. He is survived by his wife and two children.
Name:John Sczyrek
Rank:Detective
Badge:1701
End Of Watch:Thursday, June 3, 1993
Age:30
Service:NA
Cause:Gunfire
Incident Date:1993-06-03
Narration:
Detective Sczyrek was shot and killed in court by a suspect who was trying to keep him from testifying on an undercover assignment. As Detective Sczyrek walked down the hallway of the courthouse, the defendant's cousin opened fire with a .357 caliber handgun. The suspect attempted to flee but was apprehended a short distance away.
Detective Sczyrek was survived by his wife and daughter.
Name:John F. Gottfried
Rank:Police Officer
Badge:636
End Of Watch:Friday, November 28, 1980
Age:58
Service:22 Years
Cause:Gunfire
Incident Date:1980-11-28
Narration:
Officer John Gottfried was shot and killed when he attempted to stop a bank robbery. Officer Gottfried, a member of the Emergency Bureau, had gone to a nearby bank on his lunch break to cash a check. While waiting in line, three suspects entered to rob the bank. Officer Gottfried exchanged shots with the suspect and was fatally wounded. He was able to wound one of the suspects as well.
All three men were apprehended and sentenced to life.
Officer Gottfried had served with the agency for 22 years. He was survived by his wife.
Name:Arthur L. Williams
Rank:Police Officer
Badge:1547
End Of Watch:Wednesday, March 1, 1978
Age:43
Service:18 Years
Cause:Gunfire
Incident Date:1978-03-01
Narration:
Officer Arthur Williams was shot and killed while chasing two men who had broken into his home.
Officer Williams had grabbed his service revolver and identified himself. As he chased the suspects down the stairs, one of the men turned and fired, striking Officer Williams. Both suspects were eventually apprehended and sentenced to life.
Officer Williams had served with the Newark Police Department for 18 years. He was survived by his wife and two children.
Name:John William Snow
Rank:Police Officer
Badge:838
End Of Watch:Friday, August 13, 1976
Age:NA
Service:NA
Cause:Gunfire
Incident Date:1976-08-13
Narration:
Officer Snow was shot and killed while moonlighting for a check cashing store. He was transporting money to the bank while in uniform and in his cruiser when he was robbed.
Name:Richard P. Burns
Rank:Police Officer
Badge:575
End Of Watch:Sunday, February 23, 1975
Age:47
Service:NA
Cause:Gunfire
Incident Date:1975-02-23
Narration:
Officer Richard Burns was shot and killed when he attempted to intervene in a robbery at a downtown tavern.
Officer Burns was inside the tavern when several men entered and announced a robbery. Officer Burns attempted to arrest the men and exchanged shots with them. The officer was able to wound one of the suspects but was mortally wounded himself.
All of the suspects were apprehended and sentenced to life in prison. One of the suspects died in prison and the other two were eventually paroled.
Name:Frank C. Irvin
Rank:Police Officer
Badge:1575
End Of Watch:Thursday, March 29, 1973
Age:NA
Service:NA
Cause:Motorcycle Accident
Incident Date:1973-03-29
Narration:
Officer Irvin was killed in a motorcycle accident while on patrol on Irvington Avenue in the Vailsburg area. Officer Irvin was survived by his wife and children.
Name:Leslie Haskins, Jr.
Rank:Police Officer
Badge:671
End Of Watch:Friday, March 13, 1970
Age:39
Service:15 Years
Cause:Gunfire
Incident Date:1970-03-13
Narration:
Officer Haskins was shot and killed while attempting to intervene in a robbery at a tavern on Hawthorne Avenue while off duty. Two men entered the bar and held the bar owner at gunpoint. Officer Haskins opened fire on one of the men but the man returned fire, striking Officer Haskins in the head and chest.
The suspects fled the scene but were arrested three days later.
Officer Haskins had been with the Newark Police Department for 15 years. Due to debilitating injuries in an on-duty motorcycle accident 11 years earlier, he assigned to the Information Desk and Cell Block at police headquarters at the time of his murder.
Name:Robert M. LaMotta
Rank:Police Officer
Badge:65
End Of Watch:Friday, October 27, 1967
Age:45
Service:16 Years
Cause:Motorcycle Accident
Incident Date:1967-10-26
Narration:
Officer LaMotta succumbed to injuries sustained the previous day when his police motorcycle was struck by a car on Central Avenue. He was transported to Presbyterian Hospital where he died the following day.
Officer LaMotta was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII. He had served with the Newark Police Department for 16 years and was assigned to the Traffic Division. He was survived by his wife and three daughters.
Name:Frederick W. Toto
Rank:Detective
Badge:1487
End Of Watch:Friday, July 14, 1967
Age:34
Service:5 Years
Cause:Gunfire
Incident Date:1967-07-14
Narration:
Detective Frederick Toto was shot and killed by a sniper at the intersection of Broome Street and Springfield Avenue during the Newark Riots. Detective Toto was standing at the corner with other officers when shots were fired from a nearby apartment building. Detective Toto was struck in the chest and sustained a fatal wound. He was transported to St. Michael's Hospital where he died of the wound.
Detective Toto had been with the agency for 5 years and was survived by his wife and three daughters.
Name:Walter A. Debold
Rank:Sergeant
Badge:NA
End Of Watch:Sunday, December 12, 1965
Age:63
Service:29 Years
Cause:Heart Attack
Incident Date:1965-12-12
Narration:
Sergeant Debold suffered a fatal heart attack immediately after responding to a man with a gun call at a restaurant on Springfield Avenue. Once he arrived on the scene he and other officers had to break up a fight. After returning to his patrol car he collapsed and was transported to St. Michael's Hospital, where he died a few minutes later.
Sergeant Debold had served with the Newark Police Department for a total of 29 years and was assigned to the 1st Precinct. He was survived by his brother and three sisters.
Name:John C. Gutekunst
Rank:Police Officer
Badge:NA
End Of Watch:Saturday, October 16, 1965
Age:23
Service:3 Weeks
Cause:Gunfire
Incident Date:1965-10-16
Narration:
Officer Gutekunst was shot and killed while questioning a man who had bumped the vehicle that Officer Gutekunst was driving. The suspect had also been involved in other fender benders immediately prior to striking Officer Gutekunst's car. As Officer Gutekunst attempted to question the man, the suspect shot him once in the chest. The suspect fled but was arrested three hours later by his uncle, a Newark detective, in a nearby tavern.
The suspect was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 25 to 30 years in prison July 28, 1966.
Officer Gutekunst had been with the agency for only 3 weeks.
Name:Francis J. "Frank" Shannon
Rank:Police Officer
Badge:510
End Of Watch:Friday, March 29, 1963
Age:33
Service:4 Years
Cause:Gunfire
Incident Date:1963-03-29
Narration:
Police Officer Frank Shannon was shot and killed by a man who was fleeing the scene of a hit-and-run accident. Officer Shannon was off duty when he heard the collision and went to investigate. When he asked the occupants of the car if they were okay they ran from the scene. Officer Shannon gave chase and caught the male subject but was knocked down by the man. The suspect then grabbed Officer Shannon's service weapon and shot him four times as he lay on the ground.
The suspect fled the scene but was arrested a short time later and charged with murder. The vehicle involved in the hit-and-rund turned out to be stolen. Officer Shannon was shot at the corner of Bloomfield Avenue and North 4th Street, across the street from his home.
Name:Joseph C. Hagel
Rank:Police Officer
Badge:NA
End Of Watch:Wednesday, March 15, 1961
Age:63
Service:37 Years
Cause:Gunfire
Incident Date:1961-03-15
Narration:
Patrolman Hagel was shot and killed during a robbery attempt at a tavern on Summer Avenue. He had gotten off duty and was heading home when he stopped at the tavern to return a borrowed car to a friend. While he was sitting inside, two men entered and announced a holdup. Patrolman Hagel drew his weapon and one of the suspects opened fire, striking Officer Hagel in the head and twice in the body. Although mortally wounded, Patrolman Hagel returned fire and wounded the suspect, who was arrested a short time later.
Patrolman Hagel had served with the agency for 37 years. He was survived by his wife, three sons, and four daughters.
Name:Howard K. Downes
Rank:Detective
Badge:NA
End Of Watch:Monday, February 10, 1958
Age:28
Service:3 Years
Cause:Automobile Accident
Incident Date:1958-02-10
Narration:
Detective Downes was killed when his unmarked patrol car was struck by a car that ran a red light at the intersection of 18th Avenue at South 18th Street. The impact of the collision caused Detective Downes and his partner to be thrown from the vehicle. His partner sustained serious injuries but recovered.
The driver of the car that caused the collision had been drinking but was determined not to be drunk at the time. He was charged with causing death by auto.
Detective Downes had been with the agency for 3 years.
Name:Jack Woomer
Rank:Police Officer
Badge:NA
End Of Watch:Wednesday, July 10, 1957
Age:32
Service:NA
Cause:Gunfire
Incident Date:1957-07-10
Narration:
Officer Woomer was shot and killed by a man who had obtained another officers service revolver moments earlier. The man was being questioned about an auto theft when he began to struggle with the two officers. He was able to gain control of one of the officers' weapons and ran out of the building. Officer Woomer, who was pulling up to the scene, ordered the man to stop and drew his weapon.
The suspect shot Officer Woomer in the face and continued to walk away. Officer Woomer's partner returned fire, wounding the suspect, who was then taking into custody. Officer Woomer was taken to Beth Israel Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.
Officer Woomer was survived by his wife and three young children.
Name:John F. Galler
Rank:Police Officer
Badge:NA
End Of Watch:Tuesday, November 28, 1950
Age:49
Service:23 Years
Cause:Heart Attack
Incident Date:1950-11-28
Narration:
Officer Galler suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after rescuing three people from a gas-filled room on Plane Street. After pulling the three people from the room he assisted in reviving them. He then began to feel ill and was taken to City Hospital and placed in an oxygen tent. He died a short time later.
Officer Galler had been with the agency for 23 years and was assigned to the Emergency Squad. He was survived by his wife, two sons, and three sisters.
