Joseph M. Stoba Jr.
Agency patch
Trooper

Joseph M. Stoba Jr.

Connecticut State Police — Middletown, CT
Felonious
End of Watch August 6, 1962
Age 34
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
The Vigil Panel 97 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Trooper Joseph Stoba was shot and killed after responding to a domestic disturbance at 5 Diggins Avenue in Portland, Connecticut. Trooper Stoba was transporting a jail trustee back to prison when he was redirected to the domestic disturbance call. After talking with the male suspect it was decided that the man should go with Trooper Stoba to sober up. The man was allowed to go back into his home to get a sweater but came back out with a rifle and shot the trooper. The trustee, who witnessed the shooting, radioed for help. Minutes later another state trooper took the suspect into custody. The suspect, 45, was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 20 years to life in prison on November 27th, 1962. He died in prison on August 15, 1988. Trooper Stoba was assigned to Troop K.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CT-0596DD54
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.
Trooper Stoba gave the Connecticut State Police 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Connecticut. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Stoba.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type State Police
Location Middletown, CT
Platform Identity csp.ct.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 6, 1962
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Age 34
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle

Trooper Joseph M. Stoba Jr. 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 CT, 74 of 169 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 43.8% of this state's fallen. That is 43.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Connecticut State Police, 8 of 26 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 30.8% of this agency's fallen.

Connecticut State Police
8
of 26 officers
30.8% Felonious
CT — Statewide
74
of 169 officers
43.8% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph M. Stoba Jr.'s cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Joseph M. Stoba Jr. Compares

Age at Death
34
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
4
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph M. Stoba Jr. is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph M. Stoba Jr. was killed by rifle.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location