Roll of Honor

Prev Next

Reform School Officer

Woodhull W. Davis

New Jersey State Reform School — Monroe Township, NJ

Felonious

End of Watch December 21, 1895

Age 43

The Vigil Panel 13 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Reform School Officer Woodhull Davis succumbed to stab wounds sustained on March 22nd, 1894, while disciplining a juvenile inmate at the New Jersey State Reform School in Jamesburg.

The boy suddenly pulled out a jack knife and stabbed Officer Davis in the chest multiple times before he was subdued. Officer Davis' wounds were not initially thought to be serious but his condition never improved and he later died of an illness connected to the initial wounds.

Officer Davis was survived by his wife.

Survivors

Officer Davis was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NJ-4BC80BE7
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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

131 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Reform School Officer Davis served with the New Jersey State Reform School.
Thank you for your service to the Monroe Township community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department New Jersey State Reform School

Location Monroe Township, NJ

Platform Identity njsrs.middlesex.nj.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 21, 1895

Age 43

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Stabbed

Weapon Edged weapon; Knife

Reform School Officer Woodhull W. Davis is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In NJ, 264 of 646 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40.9% of this state's fallen. That is 13.3 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

New Jersey State Reform School

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

NJ — Statewide

264

of 646 officers

40.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Woodhull W. Davis's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Woodhull W. Davis Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Woodhull W. Davis is highlighted in Dec.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Woodhull W. Davis was killed by edged weapon; knife.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518