Roll of Honor
Incident
Centre Keeper John Fitzgerald succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained seven years earlier when he was shot by an inmate in the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton.
The inmate had been polishing brass when he suddenly attacked another keeper, striking him over the head several times. He then grabbed the keeper's firearm and tried to run out of the wing of the prison. He shot Keeper Fitzgerald in the back, permanently disabling him, before being shot and killed by other prison guards.
Keeper Fitzgerald had served with the New Jersey State Prison for approximately nine years.
No passage of time can ever erase your service and sacrifice. Rest in peace always.
Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo Delaware State Police (Retired) May 10th, 2021
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-01E32218- 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.
Centre Keeper Fitzgerald gave the New Jersey Department of Corrections 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of New Jersey. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Centre Keeper Fitzgerald.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Centre Keeper John R. Fitzgerald 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 New Jersey Department of Corrections, 16 of 32 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John R. Fitzgerald's cause is highlighted.
How John R. Fitzgerald Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John R. Fitzgerald is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John R. Fitzgerald was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
31 officers from New Jersey Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
