Tyron Donta Franklin
Agency patch
Police Officer

Tyron Donta Franklin

Paterson Police Department — Paterson, NJ
Felonious
End of Watch January 7, 2007
Age 23
Tour of Duty 8 mo
The Vigil Panel 155 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Tyron Franklin was shot and killed after being identified as a police officer during a robbery attempt at a local fast food restaurant at 462 Broadway.

He was paying for his food when the suspect approached him and demanded his money.

During the ensuing struggle, the man shot him four times. The man then shot him two more times as he lay on the ground after a witness yelled at him saying the victim was an officer. The man also shot and wounded a citizen who attempted to come to Officer Franklin's assistance.

The suspect fled the scene after the shooting. He was arrested by officers from the Paterson Police Department and the United States Marshals Service in nearby Irvington, New Jersey, on January 16th, 2007. On May 9th, 2008, the man was convicted of Officer Franklin's murder and sentenced to 37 years in prison.

Officer Franklin had served with the Paterson Police Department for only eight months.

Survivors

He is survived by his 16-month-old son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-E0D492A0
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Tyron. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Franklin served with the Paterson Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Paterson community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Franklin.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Paterson, Passaic County, NJ
Platform Identity patepd.passaic.nj.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 7, 2007
Tour of Duty 8 mo
Age 23
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun

Police Officer Tyron Donta Franklin 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 Paterson Police Department, 5 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 45.5% of this agency's fallen.

Paterson Police Department
5
of 11 officers
45.5% 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. Tyron Donta Franklin's cause is highlighted.

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

How Tyron Donta Franklin Compares

Age at Death
23
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0.7
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Tyron Donta Franklin is highlighted in Jan.

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. Tyron Donta Franklin was killed by handgun.

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

Incident Location