Roll of Honor
Incident
Location: New Jersey Weapon: Handgun; .44 caliber Offender: Not available
Detective John Miller was shot and killed atop an Erie Railroad freight train between Homestead and Secaucus, New Jersey.
He had boarded the train at Claxton Yards to accompany it through a high-crime area. Investigators believe a gang had been receiving intelligence from railroad employees about trains with expensive freight. As the train neared Penhorn Creek and County Road in Secaucus the gang became involved in a shootout with the crew and Detective Miller.
The crew did not realize that Detective Miller had been shot and continued to Paterson, where an employee located his body on top of one of the cars.
Six men were arrested in connection with his murder but later released.
Detective Miller was survived by two sons.
Survivors
Detective Miller was survived by two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-BA7F46A8- 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.
Detective Miller served with the Erie Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Cleveland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Miller.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective John Miller 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 OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Erie Railroad Police Department, 8 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Miller's cause is highlighted.
How John Miller Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Miller is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Miller was killed by handgun; .44 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from Erie Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
