Gary Tedesco
Agency patch
Officer

Gary Tedesco

Lodi Police Department — Lodi, NJ
Felonious
End of Watch August 26, 1963
Age 21
Tour of Duty
The Vigil Panel 98 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Gary Tedesco and Sergeant Peter Voto were shot and killed while responding to a disturbance call at a local bar. The suspects had robbed an apartment in Brooklyn, New York. In celebration, they partied with friends into the early morning at the Angel Lounge in Lodi. The men, former convicts in their mid-20s, were drinking heavily, popping barbiturates, and making enough of a racket that neighbors called the police several times to complain. When Officer Tedesco and Sergeant Voto arrived to quiet the bar down, the suspects attacked the officers and took Sergeant Voto's gun. The suspects then pistol-whipped the officers and fatally shot them. One suspect was later shot and killed by detectives from the New York City Police Department in a Manhattan hotel room. The second was convicted of murder and sentenced to death but was released by the New Jersey State Supreme Court in 2001 after serving 37 years. His original death penalty conviction was overturned in 1972 when the death penalty was declared unconstitutional. Officer Tedesco had served with the Lodi Police Department for one week.

Survivors

He was survived by his parents and two sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-8A5339FC
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
April 2, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Tedesco served with the Lodi Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Lodi community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Tedesco.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Location Lodi, NJ
Platform Identity lodipd.bergen.nj.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 26, 1963
Tour of Duty
Age 21
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun
Offender Released after 37 years

Officer Gary Tedesco is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In NJ, 264 of 646 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40.9% of this state's fallen. That is 13.3 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Lodi Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Lodi Police Department
2
of 2 officers
100% Felonious
NJ — Statewide
264
of 646 officers
40.9% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Gary Tedesco's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Gary Tedesco Compares

Age at End of Watch
21
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Released after 37 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gary Tedesco is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Gary Tedesco was killed by officer's handgun.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Lodi Police Department are honored on badge.nw.