Incident
Sergeant Peter Voto and Officer Gary Tedesco were shot and killed while responding to a disturbance call at a local bar. The suspects had robbed an apartment in Brooklyn, New York. In celebration, they partied with friends into the early morning at the Angel Lounge in Lodi. The men, former convicts in their mid-20s, were drinking heavily, popping barbiturates, and making enough of a racket that neighbors called the police several times to complain. When Officer Tedesco and Sergeant Voto arrived to quiet the bar down, the suspects attacked the officers and took Sergeant Voto's gun. The suspects then pistol-whipped the officers and fatally shot them. One suspect was later shot and killed by detectives from the New York City Police Department in a Manhattan hotel room. The second was convicted of murder and sentenced to death but was released by the New Jersey State Supreme Court in 2001 after serving 37 years. His original death penalty conviction was overturned in 1972 when the death penalty was declared unconstitutional. Sergeant Voto had served with the Lodi Police Department for over 12 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, daughter, two sons, parents, sister, and a brother who also served with the department.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-1948070A- 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.
Sergeant Voto gave the Lodi Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Lodi community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Voto.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Peter Voto 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%.
At Lodi Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Peter Voto's cause is highlighted.
How Peter Voto Compares
Offender Outcome
Released after 37 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Peter Voto is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Peter Voto was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Lodi Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
