Roll of Honor
Incident
Location: Pennsylvania Weapon: Handgun Offender: Sentenced to death
Patrolman Abner Braun was shot and killed during a vehicle pursuit on the Bensalem Pike (modern day Route 1), near the aviation field in Bustleton, Pennsylvania.
He was assigned to the Motorcycle Patrol Squad and had chased two men in a stolen car into Pennsylvania when he was shot and killed. Because of the absence of radio communications, Patrolman Braun's death was not known for several hours.
Both suspects were apprehended. One of the suspects admitted that he fired the shot that killed Patrolman Braun as he pursued them. That suspect, age 20, was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death on May 8thth, 1920, however, he died in prison on June 6, 1921 of natural causes. The other suspect was sentenced to 10-20 years in prison.
Patrolman Braun had served with the Trenton Police Department for twelve years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and seven children and is buried in Riverview Cemetery, Trenton, New Jersey.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-D42F1148- Stewardship
- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Braun gave the Trenton Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Trenton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Braun.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Abner R. Braun is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In NJ, 229 of 646 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.4% of this state's fallen. That is 35.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Trenton Police Department, 5 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Abner R. Braun's cause is highlighted.
How Abner R. Braun Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Abner R. Braun is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Abner R. Braun was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Trenton Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
