Incident
Patrolman John Plunkett was killed in a motorcycle crash while on patrol at Norfolk Street and 13th Avenue in Newark.
A car pulled out in front of his motorcycle, causing him to lose control. He was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to severe head injuries.
Patrolman Plunkett was a United States World War I veteran and had served with the Newark Police Department for 6 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his mother, two brothers, and four sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-599AD902- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw. One record, 2 gates. John is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Plunkett gave the Newark Police Division 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Newark community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John T. Plunkett served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Patrolman John T. Plunkett is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.
In NJ, 258 of 646 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 39.9% of this state's fallen. That is 39.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Newark Police Division, 19 of 58 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 32.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John T. Plunkett's cause is highlighted.
How John T. Plunkett Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. John T. Plunkett is highlighted in Dec.
Incident Location
Military Service
John T. Plunkett served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit John T. Plunkett’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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