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Patrolman

Martin J. Gaffeney

Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department — Philadelphpia, PA
Felonious
United States flag Pennsylvania flag
End of Watch March 21, 1924
The Vigil Panel 109 · Column 2 · Line 8 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 35

Incident

Location: New Jersey Weapon: Gun; Unknown type Offender: Not available

Patrolman Martin Gaffeney was shot and killed when he interrupted a burglary of several rail cars in Hamilton Township, New Jersey.

He was stationed in an area off of Whitehead Road where several burglaries had taken place recently. Patrolman Gaffeney came upon a lookout for the thieves and as he began to question him, the man fired three shots, striking Patrolman Gaffeney once in the heart. The suspect fled the scene with his accomplices. The incident was witnessed by a railroad employee.

The suspect died of natural causes in a New Jersey State Prison, June 20th, 1927 while serving a sentence for forgery, and while under indictment and awaiting trial for the murder of Patrolman Gaffeney.,

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August 2, 2026

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Gaffeney served with the Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphpia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Gaffeney.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Philadelphpia, PA
Platform Identity pennpd.rr.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 21, 1924
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Martin is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1924, 225 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

When

March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month
By day of the week
III

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 9.5% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
IV

His people

Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department has 36 officers remembered here, Martin among them.

Across the years
V

Where

Patrolman Martin J. Gaffeney

Pennsylvania Railroad Police Department · End of Watch March 21, 1924

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 20-E

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