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Albert E. Seltzer
Agency patch
Detective

Albert E. Seltzer

Newark Police Division — Newark, NJ
Accident
United States flag New Jersey flag
End of Watch October 9, 1935
Age 33
Tour of Duty 10 yrs 6 mo
The Vigil Panel 70 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 57

Incident

Detective Albert Seltzer was accidentally shot and killed by another officer who mistook him and a second detective for burglars. The two detectives were conducting a stakeout inside a theatre at 409 Springfield Avenue in Newark. The theatre had been robbed several times during the previous weeks, and the detectives were attempting to catch a robbery in progress. Another officer, patrolling his regular beat, did not know the detectives were conducting the operation and entered the theatre with a night watchman. The officer mistook the two detectives for burglars and mortally wounded Detective Seltzer. Detective Seltzer was taken to City Hospital where he died two days later. Detective Seltzer had served with the Newark Police Division for 10.5 years and was assigned to the Detective Bureau.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two daughters, and parents.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Detective Seltzer gave the Newark Police Division 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Newark community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Seltzer.

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

Agency

Department Newark Police Division
Type Police Department
Location Newark, Essex County, NJ
Platform Identity npd.essex.nj.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 9, 1935
Tour of Duty 10 yrs 6 mo
Age 33
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Albert is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1935, 99 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 8th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Albert was 33. 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. Albert had served 10.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

October holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Newark Police Division has 58 officers remembered here, Albert among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective Albert E. Seltzer

Newark Police Division · End of Watch October 9, 1935

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 5-E

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