Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Joseph Rybka was shot and killed by a wounded prisoner he was guarding at Bergen Pines County Hospital. The suspect was able to overpower Deputy Rybka at 3:08 am and gain control of his service weapon. He then fired four shots at Deputy Rybka, striking him three times. The suspect fled the hospital but was arrested approximately 30 minutes later, still holding Deputy Rybka's service weapon. The suspect was in the hospital because he had been wounded during a shootout with two Teaneck detectives four days earlier. The 22-year-old suspect had a very lengthy criminal record, which included a dozen convictions for assault, larceny, forgery, breaking and entering, fraud, illegal weapons possession, and receiving stolen property. He was convicted of Deputy Rybka's murder and sentenced to life. He was denied parole on July 16, 2022. He will be eligible for parole again on December 3, 2025. Deputy Rybka had served with the Bergen County Sheriff's Office for 10 years and was assigned to Courthouse Security.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-75186D58- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Rybka gave the Bergen County Sheriff's Office 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Hackensack community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Rybka.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Joseph J. Rybka, Jr. 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 NJ, 264 of 646 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40.9% of this state's fallen. That is 13.3 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph J. Rybka, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Joseph J. Rybka, Jr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph J. Rybka, Jr. is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph J. Rybka, Jr. was killed by officer's handgun.