Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Kessler died after being run over by an eight-ton rescue vehicle at the exit of the Holland Tunnel.
At approximately 1645 hours, about 100 feet from the Varick Street exit of the Holland Tunnel, Patrolman Kessler was mounting an eight-ton rescue vehicle. The rescue vehicle was moving slowly from the tunnel, towing a disabled Port Authority patrol wagon. Patrolman Kessler lost his footing and fell under the wheels of the vehicle.
Patrolman Kessler had served with the Port of New York Authority Police Department for 24 years, and was one of the original officers trained for tunnel duty when the tunnel opened in October 1927
Patrolman Kessler is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
Survivors
Patrolman Kessler had served with the Port of New York Authority Police Department for 24 years, and was one of the original officers trained for tunnel duty when the tunnel opened in October 1927
Patrolman Kessler is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-D39B90A5- 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
24 years. You could have gone home.
Patrolman Kessler gave the Port of New York Authority Police Department 24 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Jersey City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Kessler.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Charles Kessler 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 Port of New York Authority Police Department, 4 of 5 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles Kessler's cause is highlighted.
How Charles Kessler Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Kessler is highlighted in Dec.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Port of New York Authority Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
