David W. Brocker

New Jersey Divison of Fish and Wildlife — Trenton, NJ

Accident

End of Watch November 16, 1951

Age 37

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

The Vigil Panel 87 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 7

Incident

Warden David Brocker was killed while investigating illegal trapping at Splitrock Reservoir in Morris County with two other wardens. Warden Brocker had dropped off the other two wardens on a small island and continued paddling in their canoe. A short time later, the other two wardens heard a gunshot and then a splash into the water. When Warden Brocker failed to return at the agreed-upon time, the two wardens swam to shore and then walked to a home to call for assistance. Warden Brocker's canoe was found with blood inside it. Despite a massive search of the reservoir, his body was not found until the following spring, after the ice melted. Warden Brocker had served with the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife for 10 years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NJ-13FB318B
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.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Warden Brocker gave the New Jersey Divison of Fish and Wildlife 10 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Warden Brocker.

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

Agency

Department New Jersey Divison of Fish and Wildlife

Location Trenton, NJ

Platform Identity njdfwcons.mercer.nj.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 16, 1951

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 37

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Warden David W. Brocker is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In NJ, 258 of 646 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 39.9% of this state's fallen. That is 8.9 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.

At New Jersey Divison of Fish and Wildlife, 6 of 8 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

New Jersey Divison of Fish and Wildlife

of 8 officers

75% Accident

NJ — Statewide

258

of 646 officers

39.9% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers

31% Accident