Scott M. Gonzalez

New Jersey State Police — West Trenton, NJ

Felonious

End of Watch October 24, 1997

Age 35

Tour of Duty 5 yrs 6 mo

Badge 5059

The Vigil Panel 144 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 83

Incident

Trooper Scott Gonzalez was shot and killed while pursuing a robbery suspect at O'Brien Road, a dead-end in Mansfield Township, at 5:25 pm. Trooper Gonzalez spotted a pickup truck that fit the description of a vehicle used in a robbery a few hours earlier in Independence Township. He called in for assistance and began to pursue the truck, which sped up in an attempt to escape. The driver of the truck pulled into a dead-end road, and Trooper Gonzalez pulled in behind him, blocking his exit. The suspect abruptly made a U-turn and rammed Trooper Gonzalez's patrol car. The impact caused the patrol car's airbag to deploy, momentarily dazing him. It also jammed the doors closed, trapping Trooper Gonzalez inside the patrol car. The suspect then exited his truck and shot Trooper Gonzalez multiple times with a shotgun while he was still in his patrol car. The fatal shot struck Trooper Gonzalez in the head from less than five feet away. Trooper Gonzalez was able to return fire and shot at the suspect seven times from inside the patrol car but was unable to strike the suspect. The suspect then tried to flee. He drove down the road but was stopped by other officers. The suspect inadvertently shot himself while trying to exit the vehicle and shoot responding officers. Trooper Gonzalez had been with the New Jersey State Police for five years and previously served with the Plainfield Police Department for six months.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NJ-D81DEC3D
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.
Trooper Gonzalez gave the New Jersey State Police 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of New Jersey. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Gonzalez.

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

Agency

Department New Jersey State Police

Location West Trenton, NJ

Platform Identity njsp.nj.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 24, 1997

Tour of Duty 5 yrs 6 mo

Age 35

Badge Number 5059

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Shotgun

Offender Shot himself

Trooper Scott M. Gonzalez 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 State Police, 14 of 84 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 16.7% of this agency's fallen.

New Jersey State Police

of 84 officers

16.7% Felonious

NJ — Statewide

264

of 646 officers

40.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious