Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Hagel was shot and killed during a robbery attempt at a tavern on Summer Avenue. He had gotten off duty and was heading home when he stopped at the tavern to return a borrowed car to a friend. While he was sitting inside three men entered and announced a holdup. Patrolman Hagel drew his weapon and one of the suspects opened fire, striking Officer Hagel in the head and twice in the body. Although mortally wounded, Patrolman Hagel returned fire and wounded the 21-year-old suspect in the arm. He and the other two, 21 and 17, were arrested a short time later. All three were convicted of first degree murder. The 17-year-old was sentenced to life. The other two were sentenced to death but their sentences were later commuted to life. One was paroled in 1980. The gunman was paroled in 1975 but returned to prison three times, once for a parole violation, another time for receiving stolen property, and the third time for a drug conviction. In 1986 he was sent to prison a fourth time for 50 years for drug trafficking. On March 23, 2003, he escaped from a minimum security prison. He would have been released in 2007. Patrolman Hagel had served with the agency for 37 years. He was survived by his wife, three sons, and four daughters. One of his sons is a Newark police officer. Patrolman Hagel was set to retire in less than a year.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, three sons, and four daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-308747D2- 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
37 years. You could have gone home.
Patrolman Hagel gave the Newark Police Division 37 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Newark community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Hagel.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Joseph C. Hagel 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 Newark Police Division, 28 of 58 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 48.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph C. Hagel's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph C. Hagel Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph C. Hagel is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph C. Hagel was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
57 officers from Newark Police Division are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
