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Police Officer

Roland J. Brewster

Newark Housing Authority Police Department — Newark, NJ

Felonious

End of Watch January 12, 1972

Age 40

Tour of Duty 2 yrs 6 mo

Badge 9

The Vigil Panel 109 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Police Officer Roland Brewster was shot and killed while off-duty inside of a tavern at 20 Van Vechten Street. He was inside the tavern when three men approached him and asked if he was a police officer. Officer Brewster responded that he was not and started to back away from the men. One of the men then drew a handgun and shot him. The three were apprehended and convicted of murder. Officer Brewster had served with the Newark Housing Authority Police Department for 2-1/2 years.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-NJ-6FA96518
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.
Police Officer Brewster gave the Newark Housing Authority Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Newark community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Brewster.

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

Agency

Department Newark Housing Authority Police Department

Location Newark, NJ

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

Service Record

End of Watch January 12, 1972

Tour of Duty 2 yrs 6 mo

Age 40

Badge Number 9

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Convicted of murder

Police Officer Roland J. Brewster 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 Housing Authority 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.

Newark Housing Authority Police Department

of 2 officers

50% Felonious

NJ — Statewide

264

of 646 officers

40.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Roland J. Brewster's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Roland J. Brewster Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

2.5

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Convicted of murder

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Roland J. Brewster is highlighted in Jan.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Roland J. Brewster was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Newark Housing Authority Police Department are honored on badge.nw.