Incident
Acting Chief Patrick Guiton was shot and killed by men attempting to rob a freight train. Acting Chief Guiton was covering the position while the chief of police was on vacation. During his stead, he received word that four men were breaking into boxcars near the Booton Rubber Works. He immediately left for the robbery site and enlisted four civilians to assist with the arrest. When they arrived at the Boonton Rubber Works the four men were caught in the act and were arrested by Acting Chief Guiton, who neglected to search the men for weapons. As Acting Chief Guiton was transporting the four thieves to the town jail he told the four assistants that he no longer needed their help and dropped them off en route. As soon as the four civilian assistants were gone, the thieves attacked Acting Chief Guiton, shooting him. He was able to return fire and mortally wounded one of his assailants. The other three fled to the woods nearby. Town store clerks who saw the incident pursued the suspects into the woods and then organized a posse of approximately 50 men to search the woods. Two were apprehended in the nearby woods, the third was apprehended running from a train in a neaby county. A 16-year-old was charged with his murder. It is not known if the other two were charged.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-3273AE3A- 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.
Acting Chief Guiton served with the Boonton Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Boonton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Acting Chief Guiton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Acting Chief Patrick Guiton 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 Boonton 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. Patrick Guiton's cause is highlighted.
How Patrick Guiton Compares
Offender Outcome
One shot and killed; One charged with mu
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Patrick Guiton is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Patrick Guiton was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Boonton Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
