Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman James Doherty succumbed to injuries sustained two days earlier as a result of a massive explosion on barges carrying munitions at Black Tom Island in Jersey City, New Jersey's, New York Harbor. Parts of New York City and Jersey City were heavily damaged as a result of the explosion. Police Chief Cornelius Leyden, of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Police, was also killed in the explosion. Several other workers and civilians were killed and hundreds were injured as a result of the explosion. It is believed that the explosion was a result of German sabotage preceding WWI. As a result, Germany paid reparations to those affected by the explosion from the end of WWII until 1979. Patrolman Doherty was survived by his wife and two children. He was assigned to the Fifth Precinct.
Survivors
Patrolman Doherty was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-D66A8390- 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 Doherty served with the Jersey City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Jersey City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Doherty.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman James F. Doherty is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NJ, 258 of 646 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 39.9% of this state's fallen. That is 8.9 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Jersey City Police Department, 21 of 41 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 51.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James F. Doherty's cause is highlighted.
How James F. Doherty Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. James F. Doherty is highlighted in Aug.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
40 officers from Jersey City Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
