Roll of Honor
Biography
Daniel Anthony Pagnotta, III passed away suddenly on Wednesday, July 29, 2020. Born in Trenton, NJ, on Aug. 18, 1976, Dan grew up in Trenton and moved to Hamilton. He was a graduate from Hamilton High West in 1994 and in 1998 he received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from St. Andrew’s University in Laurinburg, NC. Dan was an avid soccer player from the age of five through high school and collegiate levels. Most recently he participated in local men’s indoor leagues and even traveled to Spain to compete with the NJ Blue Soccer Team in 2013. Dan was a 21-year veteran of the Trenton Police Department, rising to the rank of Sergeant. He was revered and honored for his leadership skills and dedication to protecting and serving the City of Trenton. He was a detective within the Proactive Unit and was assigned to the Mercer County Narcotics/Gang Task Force. He also supervised the Violent Crime Offenders Unit and was a sergeant in charge of the patrol division. As a sworn officer, he also participated in the annual Police Unity Tour, a 250-mile bike ride, which raises funds and brings awareness to those officers who have died in the line of duty. He attended numerous training classes including the FBI SWAT Training and served as a range master where he trained other officers. Dan was the recipient of various awards and honorable accolades. In addition to soccer, Dan was an enthusiastic fan of the Chicago Bears and the New York Mets. He was also a season ticket holder for the Philadelphia Union, a local soccer team where he regularly attended games with his family. He was a committed and respected coach for his daughter’s soccer team, the Hopewell Valley Dust Devils. His active presence on the sidelines was both motivating and influential. Dan was the husband of Mollie Burns Pagnotta of Pennington, and the devoted father of his daughter, Colbie, and son, Landon. Dan was the son of Daniel and Teresa Pagnotta of Columbus, and Leslie and Dave Leslie of Burlington; brother to Christine DiPilla and husband, Michael, of Doylestown, PA, Kelly Pingitor and husband, Matthew, of Cinnaminson, and Kaitlyn Humble and husband, John, of Springfield. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Deborah Hardifer, and husband, Dave, his father-in-law, Dennis Burns Sr., and wife, Laverne, all of Ewing. In addition, he is survived by sisters-in-law, Shaune Pero, Shannon Nelson, and Keely Burns; brothers-in-law, Dennis Burns Jr. and wife, Tracey, T.C. Nelson and wife, Leanna, Kevin Nelson and wife, Janice, Casey Burns and wife, Tara Lee; aunts and uncles, Joann Pagnotta, the late Donna Sutton and husband, Leonard, Teresa Fell and husband, Richard, Gregory Foster and wife, Nancy, Jeffrey Foster and the late David Harvey, James Harvey and wife, Nancy; and grandparents, the late Marion and Daniel Pagnotta and Lester and Alice Foster; along with several nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members, and friends.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-NJ-BB1E1FF7- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
Officer Daniel Pagnotta served with the Trenton Police Department.
Thank you for your service. We will always remember your sacrifice.
You belong on this wall. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Daniel Pagnotta III is one of 256 officers honored for deaths connected to the weight of the job across the full record of this memorial — 0.8% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NJ, 9 of 646 officers were honored for deaths connected to the weight of the job — 1.4% of this state's fallen. That is 0.6 percentage points above the national rate of 0.8%.
At Trenton Police Department, 1 of 7 officers on record were honored for deaths connected to the weight of the job — 14.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Suicide compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Daniel Pagnotta III's cause is highlighted.
How Daniel Pagnotta III Compares
When Suicide Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Suicide deaths across the full memorial record. Daniel Pagnotta III is highlighted in Jul.
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Trenton Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
