Thomas Emil Raji
Agency patch
Police Officer

Thomas Emil Raji

Perth Amboy Police Department — Perth Amboy, NJ
Felonious
End of Watch August 22, 2008
Age 31
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
The Vigil Panel 157 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Thomas Raji was killed when his patrol car was struck by a drunk driver at the intersection of Route 1 and Green Street, in Woodbridge, while he was transporting a prisoner to the Middlesex County Jail.

The drunk driver had run two red lights at the intersection before broadsiding Officer Raji's patrol car. Another officer and the prisoner in the patrol car were both injured. The drunk driver was charged with vehicular homicide and assault by auto. The driver was sentenced to eight years in prison.

Officer Raji had served with the Perth Amboy Police Department for 10 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his expectant wife, who also served as an officer with the department.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-B9CC9477
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.
Police Officer Raji gave the Perth Amboy Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Perth Amboy community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Raji.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Perth Amboy, Middlesex County, NJ
Platform Identity papd.middlesex.nj.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 22, 2008
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
Age 31
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Vehicular assault
Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved

Police Officer Thomas Emil Raji 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 Perth Amboy Police Department, 1 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.

Perth Amboy Police Department
1
of 3 officers
33.3% 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 Emil Raji's cause is highlighted.

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

How Thomas Emil Raji Compares

Age at Death
31
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
10
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas Emil Raji 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 Emil Raji was killed by automobile; alcohol involved.

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

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Perth Amboy Police Department are honored on badge.nw.