Roll of Honor
Incident
Park Policeman Vincent Kelly succumbed to an accidental gunshot wound sustained on November 18, 1952, while attempting to control the rabbit population at the Garrett Mountain Reservation.
He had shot a rabbit with his issued shotgun, but the rabbit did not die. He attempted to club the rabbit with the stock of his shotgun, but as he did so the shotgun discharged, and the blast struck him in the head. He was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital where he remained until succumbing to his wounds.
Policeman Kelly was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII and had served with the Passaic County Park Police Department for 2-1/2 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, child, parents, and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-5435FA51- 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 Vincent. 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
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Park Policeman Kelly gave the Passaic County Park Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Wayne community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Vincent J. Kelly served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Park Policeman Vincent J. Kelly 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Vincent J. Kelly's cause is highlighted.
How Vincent J. Kelly Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Vincent J. Kelly is highlighted in Dec.