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Patrolman

Joseph T. Jockel

New York City Police Department — New York, NY

Felonious

End of Watch December 28, 1929

Age 32

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Badge 11194

The Vigil Panel 58 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 1,221

Incident

Patrolman Joseph Jockel was shot and killed while off-duty when he attempted to arrest four robbery suspects at Grand Street in Maspeth. Patrolman Jockel was in uniform on his way to report to duty, waiting for a trolly in Maspeth, Queens, when he observed a speeding taxicab that failed to stop at a signal. Patrolman Jockel commandeered a vehicle and pursued the suspects, who had just robbed a store, and forced their vehicle off the road. When the vehicle came to a stop, the suspects exited, and one suspect shot Patrolman Jockel three times in the head. Patrolman Jockel stumbled toward a police call box but collapsed before reaching it. He died at the scene. Patrolman Jockel's mother, who was attending a Christmas party across the street from where the shooting occurred, was the first person to find Patrolman Jockel after he was shot. Within the following year, multiple arrests were made for the string of holdups that had occurred throughout the city. Leaders of these robbery gangs were convicted and sent to prison for 5- 20 years. One suspect was murdered in 1932 by a presumed rival gang. Nobody was ever tried for Patrolman Jockel's murder. Patrolman Jockel had served with the New York City Police Department for six years and was assigned to Motorcycle Squad 1. He is survived by his wife and four children. Patrolman Jockel was posthumously awarded the New York City Police Department's Medal of Honor for his actions.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

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Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Jockel gave the New York City Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Jockel.

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

Agency

Department New York City Police Department

Type Police Department

Location New York, NY

Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 28, 1929

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Age 32

Badge Number 11194

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Joseph is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1929, 205 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 12th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Joseph was 32. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Joseph had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Saturdays: 16.3%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded