Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Keeper Joseph Peto succumbed to injuries suffered three years earlier when he was severely beaten by four inmates during an escape from the New Jersey State Prison Farm in Bordentown.
The prisoners beat Keeper Peto into unconsciousness and fractured his skull before they stole his car and fled from the prison farm. They later broke into a farmhouse and beat an elderly couple before stealing their vehicle. They were captured several days later in New Brunswick. They were all convicted of beating the elderly couple and theft of their car, as well as the beating of Keeper Peto and had over 20 years added to their original sentences.
Deputy Keeper Peto was unable to return to work and his condition deteriorated until he succumbed to his injuries on December 2nd, 1948.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and seven step-children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-1186B993- 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.
Deputy Keeper Peto gave the New Jersey Department of Corrections 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of New Jersey. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Keeper Peto.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Keeper Joseph Peto 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. Joseph Peto's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Peto Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Peto is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Peto was killed by person.
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.
