Roll of Honor
Incident
Captain Joe Goertz died from complications as a result of contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.
Captain Goertz had served with the Lakewood Police Department for 23 years.
Beginning in early 2020, thousands of law enforcement officers and other first responders throughout the country began to contract COVID-19 during the worldwide pandemic. Due to the nature of their job, law enforcement officers were required to work and interact with the community even as the majority of the country was self-quarantined. As a result, hundreds of officers died from COVID-related illnesses and other complications.
Visit ODMP's COVID-19 memorial listing every officer who has died as a result of a confirmed or presumed exposure.
COVID-19 and Law Enforcement
Captain Joseph William Goertz died on October 31, 2021 of COVID-19 contracted in the line of duty. He was 60.
He is one of 884 officers honored here.
Beginning in early 2020, law enforcement officers across the country contracted COVID-19 in the course of their duties. While much of the nation sheltered at home, they kept answering calls, making arrests, transporting prisoners, and working face to face with the public. There was no distance to be had from the job.
Corrections officers were hit hardest. Confined facilities and large populations meant constant, close, unavoidable exposure.
Survivors
he is survived by his wife, two daughters, two sons, mother, two sisters, and a brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-51BC34FF- 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
The country locked its doors. You kept working.
Captain Goertz gave the Lakewood Police Department 23 years.
Thank you for your service to the Lakewood community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Captain Goertz.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Captain Joseph William Goertz is one of 2,974 officers lost to illness connected to their service across the full record of this memorial — 9.1% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NJ, 77 of 646 officers were lost to illness connected to their service — 11.9% of this state's fallen. That is 2.8 percentage points above the national rate of 9.1%.
At Lakewood Police Department, 1 of 4 officers on record were lost to illness connected to their service — 25% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Illness compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph William Goertz's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph William Goertz Compares
When Illness Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Illness deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph William Goertz is highlighted in Oct.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Lakewood Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
