Roll of Honor
His Life
Patrolman Joseph Sewell suffered a fatal heart attack while booking a prisoner into the Montgomery Street Station after having struggled with the man during an arrest.
The man had been prowling on the third floor of 178 Duncan Avenue and was arrested for disorderly conduct. Patrolman Sewell had taken him to the station and was booking him when he collapsed.
The prisoner attempted to escape as other officers came to Patrolman Sewell's aid.
Patrolman Sewell had served with the Jersey City Police Department for 12 years. He was survived by his wife, son, brother, and two sisters. He was predeceased by another brother who had served on the Jersey City Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, brother, and two sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-AD0F123F- 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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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Sewell gave the Jersey City Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Jersey City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Sewell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
His Life Details
Patrolman Joseph Francis Sewell is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,586 officers honored here.
In NJ, 38 of 646 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 5.9% of this state's fallen. That is 1.9 percentage points above the national rate of 4%.
At Jersey City Police Department, 4 of 41 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 9.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Cardiac compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Francis Sewell's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Francis Sewell Compares
When Cardiac Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Cardiac deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Francis Sewell is highlighted in Jul.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
40 officers from Jersey City Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
