Thomas S. Adubato
Agency patch
Detective

Thomas S. Adubato

Newark Police Division — Newark, NJ
Felonious
End of Watch August 17, 1918
Age 46
Tour of Duty 19 yrs
Badge 819
The Vigil Panel 34 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Thomas Adubato was shot and killed at an apartment complex at 336 East 38th Street in Manhattan in New York City while attempting to arrest a murder suspect wanted in Newark. A New York City officer who was with Detective Adubato was also shot and wounded. Despite the wounds Detective Adubato received, he picked up the other wounded officer and carried him down five flights of stairs to safety. Detective Adubato was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. The suspect was never charged in connection with Detective Adubato's death but was convicted of the original murder and executed. Detective Adubato had served with the Newark Police Division for 19 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-C0AE7FBF
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 Adubato gave the Newark Police Division 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the Newark community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Adubato.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Newark, NJ
Platform Identity npdpd.essex.nj.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 17, 1918
Tour of Duty 19 yrs
Age 46
Badge Number 819
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Detective Thomas S. Adubato 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 Newark Police Division, 28 of 58 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 48.3% of this agency's fallen.

Newark Police Division
28
of 58 officers
48.3% Felonious
NJ — Statewide
229
of 646 officers
35.4% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas S. Adubato's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Thomas S. Adubato Compares

Age at Death
46
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
19
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas S. Adubato is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas S. Adubato was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location