Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Melvin Santiago was shot and killed at 4:09 am when he and his partner responded to a robbery call at a 24-hour pharmacy on the corner of Communipaw Avenue and John F. Kennedy Boulevard.
A male subject had entered the store and assaulted a private security guard. He severely beat the guard and stole his service weapon, then waited for responding officers to arrive with the intention to ambush them.
Detective Santiago and his partner had just pulled into the parking lot as the man exited the building and opened fire on them without warning. Detective Santiago was struck in the head before he was able to exit from the patrol car's passenger seat.
Other responding officers returned fire and killed the subject.
Detective Santiago had graduated from the academy only six months prior to the incident.
Survivors
He was survived by his mother and stepfather.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-88B0F2D1- 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.
Detective Santiago served with the Jersey City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Jersey City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Santiago.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Melvin Vincent Santiago 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 Jersey City Police Department, 14 of 41 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 34.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Melvin Vincent Santiago's cause is highlighted.
How Melvin Vincent Santiago Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Melvin Vincent Santiago is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Melvin Vincent Santiago was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
40 officers from Jersey City Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
