William Hoblitzell
Agency patch
Warden

William Hoblitzell

Felonious
End of Watch September 17, 1921
Age 61
Tour of Duty 25 yrs
The Vigil Panel 41 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Warden William Hoblitzell was shot and killed while investigating reports of hunters in the Kenilworth Woods in Union County. He was shot twice with a .22 caliber rifle as he walked through the woods.

No suspects were ever identified in connection with his murder.

Warden Hoblitzell had served with the New Jersey Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife for 25 years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-8C6BADB4
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

25 years. You could have gone home.
Warden Hoblitzell gave the New Jersey Divison of Fish and Wildlife 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Warden Hoblitzell.

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

Agency

Location Trenton, NJ
Platform Identity njdfwcons.mercer.nj.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 17, 1921
Tour of Duty 25 yrs
Age 61
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle; .22 caliber
Offender Never identified

Warden William Hoblitzell 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 New Jersey Divison of Fish and Wildlife, 2 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.

New Jersey Divison of Fish and Wildlife
2
of 8 officers
25% 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. William Hoblitzell'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 William Hoblitzell Compares

Age at End of Watch
61
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
25
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Never identified

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Hoblitzell is highlighted in Sep.

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. William Hoblitzell was killed by rifle; .22 caliber.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location