Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective William Mertz and Detective Robert Shannon, of the East Orange 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 Newburg, 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.
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BO-US-NJ-7F3572B2- Stewardship
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- 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 Mertz served with the Bloomfield Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Bloomfield community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Mertz.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective William Francis Mertz 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 Bloomfield Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Francis Mertz's cause is highlighted.
How William Francis Mertz Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Francis Mertz is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Francis Mertz was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Bloomfield Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
