Roll of Honor
Bernard T. Waddell, Sr.
Incident
Correctional Officer Bernard Waddell died from complications as the result of contracting COVID-19 while working at the Hudson County Correctional Center at 30-35 South Hackensack Avenue in Kearny.
Officer Waddell had served with the Hudson County Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for 28 years.
COVID-19 and Law Enforcement
Correctional Officer Bernard T. Waddell, Sr. died on April 1, 2020 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 56.
He is one of 884 officers honored here.
Beginning in early 2020, law enforcement officers across the country contracted COVID-19 in the course of their duties. While much of the nation sheltered at home, they kept answering calls, making arrests, transporting prisoners, and working face to face with the public. There was no distance to be had from the job.
Corrections officers were hit hardest. Confined facilities and large populations meant constant, close, unavoidable exposure.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-F53C3E05- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Bernard. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Correctional Officer Waddell gave the Hudson County Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation 28 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of New Jersey. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer Waddell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Correctional Officer Bernard T. Waddell, Sr. is one of 1 officers lost to illness connected to their service across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.
In NJ, 112 of 646 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 17.3% of this state's fallen. That is 17.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Illness compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Bernard T. Waddell, Sr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Bernard T. Waddell, Sr. Compares
When Illness Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. Bernard T. Waddell, Sr. is highlighted in Apr.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Hudson County Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation are honored on badge.nw.