Joseph W. Martin
Incident
Superintendent Joseph Martin died after falling down a flight of stairs in the Rahway Reformatory's superintendent's quarters on November 1st, 1908.
He was attempting to free a gas valve which had been stuck in the on position for several days and needed to be cleaned. He lost his footing while working on the valve and fell down a flight of stairs. His leg suffered two fractures as a result of the fall and the injury caused his health to quickly deteriorate until his death on November 13th, 1908.
Superintendent Martin was a Union Army veteran of the Civil War and had served as the superintendent of the Rahway Reformatory for seven years. He was survived by his wife and four sons. One of his sons, who had served as assistant superintendent, was appointed to replace him as superintendent.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Superintendent Martin gave the New Jersey Department of Corrections 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of New Jersey. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Joseph W. Martin served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Accident
New Jersey Department of Corrections has lost 32 officers; 3 of them lost to accidents.
Joseph is one of 258 officers lost to accidents in NJ, 39.9% of the 647 remembered there.
Joseph is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Joseph is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1908, 2 officers in NJ were lost to accidents, the 39th heaviest of 102 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 11.
In 1908, 36 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 111th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1908, 48 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 108th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Joseph was 70. Of the 232 lost to accidents in NJ whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 41.3; the middle age was 33.5. Joseph had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Joseph was 70. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Joseph had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Joseph was 70. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Joseph had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
November holds 8.5% of these deaths in NJ; March holds the most, 10.5%. Fridays: 14.3%.
November holds 8.3% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 15.1%.
November holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Fridays: 15%.
How
Accident deaths account for 9.4% of all 32 deaths at New Jersey Department of Corrections, the 4th most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 39.9% of all 647 deaths in NJ, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
New Jersey Department of Corrections has 32 officers remembered here, Joseph among them.
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James B. Lippincott Mar 2, 1894
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Jacob Grandine Van Houten
Apr 14, 1896
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William H. Hemsing
Aug 17, 1899
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Charles I. Parker Oct 25, 1900
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Joseph W. Martin Nov 13, 1908
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Edward McManus Feb 18, 1909
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John R. Fitzgerald May 10, 1911
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Eli B. Stetser
Sep 21, 1913
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Frederick A. Douglass Mar 11, 1915
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Bruce Linwood Drummond
Mar 20, 1919
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George Harrison May 4, 1924
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Daniel J. Walsh Jul 3, 1924
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Joseph H. Tinney
Feb 4, 1928
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Frank Butcher
Mar 13, 1930
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Joseph Peto Dec 2, 1948
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Victor Viteritto
Feb 28, 1951
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Alonzo Lanphear Apr 10, 1954
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Donald Hiles
Mar 8, 1968
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George Paszkowski
Aug 8, 1969
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Donald Bourne
Feb 28, 1972
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Dean E. Evans Jul 7, 1978
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Frederick W. Baker
Jul 30, 1997
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Michael Price
Apr 19, 2000
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Wayne Robert Clark
Jan 10, 2006
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Nikeelan D. Semmon
Jul 1, 2016
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Nelson Perdomo
Apr 9, 2020
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Maria Gibbs
Apr 22, 2020
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Vincent R. Butler
Dec 28, 2020
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Edward Chavez Jamandron
Jan 15, 2021
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Daniel Richard Krupa
Nov 17, 2021
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Robert F. McCormack
Jan 30, 2022
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Daniel Sincavage
May 19, 2022
Where
Military Service
Joseph W. Martin served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit Joseph W. Martin’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 26-E
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
31 officers from New Jersey Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.













