Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Robert Shannon and Detective William Mertz, of the Bloomfield Police Department, were shot and killed while they and two other officers attempted to arrest a murder suspect. The other two officers were wounded. Detective Mertz succumbed to his wounds three days after the shooting. The 57-year-old suspect was apprehended in Newberg, New York on August 27, 1916. Two months later he was convicted of two counts of murder and sentenced to death. His sentence was later commuted to life.
Survivors
Detective Shannon was survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-0F34CCEC- 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 Shannon served with the East Orange Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the East Orange community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Shannon.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Robert J. Shannon 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 East Orange Police Department, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert J. Shannon's cause is highlighted.
How Robert J. Shannon Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert J. Shannon is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert J. Shannon was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from East Orange Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
