Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Keeper Joseph Tinney was shot and killed as two inmates attempted to escape from the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton.
Handguns had been smuggled into the prison by two inmates who were allowed to go outside of the prison to work. When Keeper Tinney arrived to take the inmates to the dining hall, he was shot and killed. After killing Keeper Tinney, the inmates attempted to scale the wall. The officers in the tower opened fire on the inmates, who fired back. Both inmates were shot and wounded by the tower officers and apprehended when they fell to the ground. One was left paralyzed from the waist down.
The two inmates were convicted of Keeper Tinney's murder and sentenced to life in prison. The one who was paralyzed was paroled in 1957, and the other died in prison the same year. The two men who supplied the guns would have gotten out in less than a year. Instead, they received another three years for complicity in murder.
Keeper Tinney was a WWI Army veteran and had served with the New Jersey Department of Corrections for three years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-A9A9B108- 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 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.
Deputy Keeper Tinney gave the New Jersey Department of Corrections 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of New Jersey. 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
Joseph H. Tinney served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Deputy Keeper Joseph H. Tinney 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 Department of Corrections, 16 of 32 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph H. Tinney's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph H. Tinney Compares
Offender Outcome
One paroled: One died in prison in 1957
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph H. Tinney is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph H. Tinney was killed by handgun; pistol.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
31 officers from New Jersey Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
