Roll of Honor
Incident
Turnkey Isaac Hibbs was shot and killed as two prisoners escaped from the Camden County Jail.
One prisoner was awaiting trial on murder charges and the other on forgery charges. The wife of the accused murderer was able to smuggle a revolver into the jail when she visited him.
As Turnkey Hibbs was walking through the cell block, one suspect called to him "Come here." When Turnkey Hibbs approached, the suspect told him "Open the door, I want to show you this note." The suspect was holding a piece of paper in his hand. When Turnkey Hibbs opened the cell door, the suspect dropped the paper and revealed his hidden revolver. The suspect ordered Turnkey Hibbs to put up his hands. When he did he shot him three times.
One of the suspects then took the keys for all the doors in the jail from Turnkey Hibbs' belt and both suspects fled on foot. As they ran through the jail, they encountered a jail keeper. The suspect who was the murderer pointed the revolver at the keeper and ordered him to step aside. The keeper, instead of obeying, went straight at the suspect, despite the fact that the suspect was pointing a revolver at him. He grabbed the suspect, but was not able to wrestle the revolver free before the suspect fired two shots, wounding him. The suspects then were able to make their way to the street and escaped.
The suspects were arrested the next day in Chester, Pennsylvania. With them was the woman who smuggled the gun into the jail. She too, was arrested and charged as an accomplice to the murder.
The 25-year-old murderer was in jail for shooting and killing a 25-year-old actress on January 22, 1916, as she stood in her yard with her father and 7-year-old son. It was said he was madly in love with her and the victim had let him know she wanted nothing to do with him. He was convicted of her murder and executed in the electric chair on January 3, 1917. The other escapee was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 5 to 30 years. The murderer's wife was sentenced to one to three years.
One of the two officers who made the arrest was Policeman William H. Padgett of the Chester Police Department, who was shot and killed in the line of duty on August 28th, 1917.
One prisoner was awaiting trial on murder charges and the other on forgery charges. The wife of the accused murderer was able to smuggle a revolver into the jail when she visited him.
As Turnkey Hibbs was walking through the cell block, one suspect called to him "Come here." When Turnkey Hibbs approached, the suspect told him "Open the door, I want to show you this note." The suspect was holding a piece of paper in his hand. When Turnkey Hibbs opened the cell door, the suspect dropped the paper and revealed his hidden revolver. The suspect ordered Turnkey Hibbs to put up his hands. When he did he shot him three times.
One of the suspects then took the keys for all the doors in the jail from Turnkey Hibbs' belt and both suspects fled on foot. As they ran through the jail, they encountered a jail keeper. The suspect who was the murderer pointed the revolver at the keeper and ordered him to step aside. The keeper, instead of obeying, went straight at the suspect, despite the fact that the suspect was pointing a revolver at him. He grabbed the suspect, but was not able to wrestle the revolver free before the suspect fired two shots, wounding him. The suspects then were able to make their way to the street and escaped.
The suspects were arrested the next day in Chester, Pennsylvania. With them was the woman who smuggled the gun into the jail. She too, was arrested and charged as an accomplice to the murder.
Thank you for your service and please know that no passage of time will ever erase your sacrifice. Rest in peace always.
Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo Delaware State Police (Retired) July 17th, 2020
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- April 2, 2026
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- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Turnkey Hibbs served with the Camden County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Camden community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Turnkey Hibbs.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Turnkey Isaac Hibbs 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Isaac Hibbs's cause is highlighted.
How Isaac Hibbs Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1917
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Isaac Hibbs is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Isaac Hibbs was killed by handgun; revolver.