Joseph C. Hagel

Newark Police Division — Newark, NJ

Felonious

End of Watch March 15, 1961

Age 63

Tour of Duty 37 yrs

The Vigil Panel 96 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 57

Incident

Patrolman Hagel was shot and killed during a robbery attempt at a tavern on Summer Avenue. He had gotten off duty and was heading home when he stopped at the tavern to return a borrowed car to a friend. While he was sitting inside three men entered and announced a holdup. Patrolman Hagel drew his weapon and one of the suspects opened fire, striking Officer Hagel in the head and twice in the body. Although mortally wounded, Patrolman Hagel returned fire and wounded the 21-year-old suspect in the arm. He and the other two, 21 and 17, were arrested a short time later. All three were convicted of first degree murder. The 17-year-old was sentenced to life. The other two were sentenced to death but their sentences were later commuted to life. One was paroled in 1980. The gunman was paroled in 1975 but returned to prison three times, once for a parole violation, another time for receiving stolen property, and the third time for a drug conviction. In 1986 he was sent to prison a fourth time for 50 years for drug trafficking. On March 23, 2003, he escaped from a minimum security prison. He would have been released in 2007. Patrolman Hagel had served with the agency for 37 years. He was survived by his wife, three sons, and four daughters. One of his sons is a Newark police officer. Patrolman Hagel was set to retire in less than a year.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, three sons, and four daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NJ-308747D2
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 Joseph. 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

37 years. You could have gone home.
Patrolman Hagel gave the Newark Police Division 37 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Newark community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Hagel.

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

Agency

Department Newark Police Division

Location Newark, NJ

Platform Identity npdpd.essex.nj.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 15, 1961

Tour of Duty 37 yrs

Age 63

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .32 caliber

Offender Paroled in 1975

Patrolman Joseph C. Hagel 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%.

At Newark Police Division, 28 of 58 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 48.3% of this agency's fallen.

Newark Police Division

of 58 officers

48.3% Felonious

NJ — Statewide

264

of 646 officers

40.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious