Anthony J. Garaffa

Irvington Police Department — Irvington, NJ

Felonious

End of Watch August 9, 1984

Age 41

Tour of Duty 16 yrs

Badge 13

The Vigil Panel 128 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Patrolman Anthony Garaffa was shot and killed while investigating a call involving suspicious activity near 40th Street and Springfield Avenue at 1130 am. When he arrived at the scene, he encountered three men and began to question them. When he asked one of the men what was in a bag the man was carrying, the suspect reached into it and fired a sawed-off shotgun through the bag, fatally wounding Patrolman Garaffa. Patrolman Garaffa was taken to University Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds approximately five hours later. The 21-year-old suspect turned himself in about two hours after the shooting and was charged with capital murder. He was convicted and sentenced to death. On February 14, 1991, his sentence was commuted to 30 years to life. He will be eligible for parole on January 19, 2022. Patrolman Garaffa had served with the Irvington Police Department for 16 years and had received over 40 letters of commendation throughout his career.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and 2-year-old daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NJ-A44BF316
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.
Patrolman Garaffa gave the Irvington Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Irvington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Garaffa.

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

Agency

Department Irvington Police Department

Location Irvington, NJ

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

Service Record

End of Watch August 9, 1984

Tour of Duty 16 yrs

Age 41

Badge Number 13

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun; 12 gauge

Offender Sentenced commuted to 30 years

Patrolman Anthony J. Garaffa 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 Irvington Police Department, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Irvington Police Department

of 4 officers

100% Felonious

NJ — Statewide

264

of 646 officers

40.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious