Roll of Honor
Incident
Trooper Prato was killed at 8:19 p.m. in an automobile accident on I-295 in West Deptford Township. His patrol car was traveling north on the inside lane when he was struck head-on by a drunk driver in a 1963 Chevrolet convertible heading south in the northbound lane at mile marker 19.3. The 50-year-old drunk driver was also killed. Trooper Prato had served with the agency for 13 months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two sons, ages 4 and 2.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-543971CA- 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
You barely got started.
Trooper Prato gave the New Jersey State Police 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the people of New Jersey. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Prato.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Trooper Robert J. Prato 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 New Jersey State Police, 14 of 84 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 16.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert J. Prato's cause is highlighted.
How Robert J. Prato Compares
Offender Outcome
Killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert J. Prato is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert J. Prato was killed by automobile; alcohol involved.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
83 officers from New Jersey State Police are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
