Incident
Detective Thomas Adubato was shot and killed at an apartment complex at 336 East 38th Street in Manhattan in New York City while attempting to arrest a murder suspect wanted in Newark. A New York City officer who was with Detective Adubato was also shot and wounded. Despite the wounds Detective Adubato received, he picked up the other wounded officer and carried him down five flights of stairs to safety. Detective Adubato was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. The suspect was never charged in connection with Detective Adubato's death but was convicted of the original murder and executed. Detective Adubato had served with the Newark Police Division for 19 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Adubato gave the Newark Police Division 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the Newark community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Adubato.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Newark Police Division has lost 58 officers; 28 of them killed feloniously.
Thomas is one of 264 officers killed feloniously in NJ, 40.8% of the 647 remembered there.
Thomas is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Thomas is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1918, 1 officer at Newark Police Division was killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 26 years on record. The heaviest was 1876, with 2.
In 1918, 6 officers in NJ were killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 101 years on record. The heaviest was 2001, with 39.
In 1918, 165 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 19th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1918, 169 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 24th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Thomas was 46. Of the 26 killed feloniously at Newark Police Division whose age is recorded, half were between 32.3 and 46; the middle age was 36.5. Thomas had served 19 years; the middle length of service was 8.7 years.
Thomas was 46. Of the 247 killed feloniously in NJ whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 47; the middle age was 38. Thomas had served 19 years; the middle length of service was 9 years.
Thomas was 46. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Thomas had served 19 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Thomas was 46. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Thomas had served 19 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
August holds 10.7% of these deaths at Newark Police Division; March holds the most, 21.4%. Saturdays: 14.3%.
August holds 7.2% of these deaths in NJ; September holds the most, 23.9%. Saturdays: 10.2%.
August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.
August holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Saturdays: 16.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 48.3% of all 58 deaths at Newark Police Division, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 21.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 40.8% of all 647 deaths in NJ, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 12.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
Newark Police Division has 58 officers remembered here, Thomas among them.
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Maxwell Badgley Oct 23, 1854
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Benjamin Ellsden Jul 13, 1876
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Stanley J. Brock Aug 8, 1876
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Thomas Lyons Apr 14, 1885
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John Sebold
Mar 9, 1886
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John J. McGovern
Oct 13, 1912
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John J. Gaffney
Dec 7, 1912
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James P. Parkinson Apr 19, 1914
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William H. Hopkins
Jun 21, 1917
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Thomas S. Adubato
Aug 17, 1918
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Patrick J. Ryan
Jul 16, 1919
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Thomas J. Downey
Jan 4, 1922
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Cedric J. Peterson
May 22, 1922
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Edward Bonnet
Aug 29, 1923
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John Laubenstein Feb 20, 1924
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John T. Plunkett Dec 12, 1924
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Joseph Nichols
Oct 31, 1925
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William A. Frederick
Dec 14, 1927
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Alfred Thiele Feb 6, 1929
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Charles A. Robbins
Mar 18, 1929
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Robert W. Anderson
Mar 5, 1930
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Albert Houston
Sep 16, 1932
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Edward Dehmer, Sr.
Dec 1, 1933
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Charles J. Gerstner, Jr. Nov 30, 1934
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Albert E. Seltzer
Oct 9, 1935
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Joseph J. Baumann
Sep 18, 1942
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Theodore Laux
Feb 4, 1950
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John F. Galler
Nov 28, 1950
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Jack Woomer
Jul 10, 1957
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Howard K. Downes
Feb 10, 1958
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Joseph C. Hagel
Mar 15, 1961
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Francis J. Shannon
Mar 29, 1963
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John C. Gutekunst
Oct 16, 1965
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Walter A. Debold
Dec 12, 1965
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Frederick W. Toto
Jul 14, 1967
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Robert M. LaMotta
Oct 27, 1967
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Leslie Haskins, Jr.
Mar 13, 1970
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Frank C. Irvin
Mar 29, 1973
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Richard P. Burns, Sr.
Feb 23, 1975
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John William Snow
Aug 13, 1976
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Arthur L. Williams
Mar 1, 1978
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John F. Gottfried
Nov 28, 1980
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John Walter Sczyrek Jr.
Jun 3, 1993
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Dewey Joe Sherbo, III
Nov 9, 1997
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Melvin Lisojo
Jun 24, 2003
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Dwayne Anthony Reeves
Jul 18, 2005
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Tommaso Popolizio
Mar 3, 2007
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Michael Morgan, Jr.
Nov 7, 2011
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Reinaldo Arocha, Jr.
Sep 16, 2014
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Tolbert A. Furr
Apr 3, 2020
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Michael Alexander Conners
Apr 30, 2020
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Michael W. Clegg
May 10, 2020
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Irving Gene Callender, III
Aug 22, 2020
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Marcus Thomas
Sep 28, 2020
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Hector Moya
Jan 13, 2021
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Brian K. McAdams, Sr.
Jan 22, 2021
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Richard Weber
May 1, 2023
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Joseph Anthony Azcona
Mar 8, 2025
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 12-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
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