Peter Voto
Agency patch
Sergeant

Peter Voto

Lodi Police Department — Lodi, NJ
Felonious
End of Watch August 26, 1963
Age 40
Tour of Duty 12 yrs 6 mo
The Vigil Panel 98 ›
Gender Male

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

Location Lodi, NJ
Platform Identity lodipd.bergen.nj.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 26, 1963
Tour of Duty 12 yrs 6 mo
Age 40
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun
Offender Released after 37 years

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.

Lodi Police Department
2
of 2 officers
100% Felonious
NJ — Statewide
264
of 646 officers
40.9% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Peter Voto's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Peter Voto Compares

Age at End of Watch
40
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
12.5
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

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.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Peter Voto was killed by officer's handgun.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Lodi Police Department are honored on badge.nw.