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Incident
Patrolman Clifton Dwyer was killed when his police motorcycle collided with a milk truck at the intersection of River Road and Tilden Street during a period of heavy fog in the early morning hours. Patrolman Dwyer's partner was seriously injured but survived. Patrolman Dwyer was working the night shift with probationary officer Michael Cancro, riding a motorcycle with a sidecar. At the end of their shift, early in the morning of March 14, 1926, they decided to go to Cedar Lane in Teaneck to get coffee at a coffee wagon. The snow on the ground was melting, causing fog early in the morning that day. As they drove on River Road they did not see a horse-drawn milk wagon, parked on the east side of River Road. Patrolman Dwyer swerved and hit a whiffle tree on the other side of the milk wagon. The milkman found Patrolman Dwyer lying injured in the snow and ran to a nearby home for help, finding Patrolman Cancro injured as well. The men were taken to Holy Name Hospital where Patrolman Dwyer died a couple of hours later. Patrolman Cancro survived but did not pursue a police career thereafter. He opened a restaurant and bar across from where the current police station is today in Teaneck. Patrolman Dwyer had only served with the agency for one year.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, 2-year-old son, brother, sister, and niece.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Patrolman Dwyer gave the Teaneck Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Teaneck community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Dwyer.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Teaneck Police Department has lost 4 officers; 2 of them lost to accidents.
Clifton is one of 258 officers lost to accidents in NJ, 39.9% of the 647 remembered there.
Clifton is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Clifton is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1926, 5 officers in NJ were lost to accidents, the 9th heaviest of 102 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 11.
In 1926, 68 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 54th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1926, 75 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 66th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Clifton was 26. Of the 232 lost to accidents in NJ whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 41.3; the middle age was 33.5. Clifton had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Clifton was 26. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Clifton had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Clifton was 26. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Clifton had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
March holds 10.5% of these deaths in NJ, more than any other month. Sundays: 16.7%.
March holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Sundays: 14%.
March holds 7.4% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Sundays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 50% of all 4 deaths at Teaneck Police Department, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 39.9% of all 647 deaths in NJ, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Teaneck Police Department has 4 officers remembered here, Clifton among them.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 4-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Teaneck Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
