Roll of Honor
Incident
Guard Joseph Michalowski was shot and killed after being taken hostage by a prisoner who was escaping from the Middlesex County Jail.
The inmate, who was in jail awaiting trial on charges of atrocious assault with the intent to kill, attacked Guard Michalowski and forced him to open a secret gun locker. After taking a gun from the locker, the man forced Guard Michalowski into a guard station wagon and ordered him to drive away.
When the wagon entered the town of Highland Park, Guard Michalowski spotted a Highland Park patrolman and attempted to signal him near the intersection Raritan Avenue and Sixth Street. The subject, seeing what was happening, shot and killed Guard Michalowski. The patrolman, alerted by the sound of the gunshots, ran to the vehicle as the subject pushed Guard Michalowski's body from it and fled.
The patrolman gave chase on the running board of a commandeered civilian automobile, and then on foot through several backyards. The subject attempted to pull a man from his car at gunpoint but the man resisted and attempted to wrestle the gun from the subject's hand. The man was able to break free and fired two shots at the approaching patrolman, both of which missed. The patrolman returned fire, striking the subject in the head. The subject died the next day from his wound.
Guard Michalowski had served as a temporary guard in the Middlesex County Jail for four months.
The inmate, who was in jail awaiting trial on charges of atrocious assault with the intent to kill, attacked Guard Michalowski and forced him to open a secret gun locker. After taking a gun from the locker, the man forced Guard Michalowski into a guard station wagon and ordered him to drive away.
The patrolman gave chase on the running board of a commandeered civilian automobile, and then on foot through several backyards. The subject attempted to pull a man from his car at gunpoint but the man resisted and attempted to wrestle the gun from the subject's hand. The man was able to break free and fired two shots at the approaching patrolman, both of which missed. The patrolman returned fire, striking the subject in the head. The subject died the next day from his wound.
Guard Michalowski had served as a temporary guard in the Middlesex County Jail for four months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-NJ-A610B57C- Stewardship
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- 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.
Guard Michalowski served with the Middlesex County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the New Brunswick community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Guard Michalowski.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Guard Joseph Michalowski 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Michalowski's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Michalowski Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Michalowski is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Michalowski was killed by officer's handgun.