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Incident
Centre Keeper John Fitzgerald succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained seven years earlier when he was shot by an inmate in the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton.
The inmate had been polishing brass when he suddenly attacked another keeper, striking him over the head several times. He then grabbed the keeper's firearm and tried to run out of the wing of the prison. He shot Keeper Fitzgerald in the back, permanently disabling him, before being shot and killed by other prison guards.
Keeper Fitzgerald had served with the New Jersey State Prison for approximately nine years.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- September 9, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Centre Keeper Fitzgerald gave the New Jersey Department of Corrections 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of New Jersey. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Centre Keeper Fitzgerald.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
New Jersey Department of Corrections has lost 32 officers; 16 of them killed feloniously.
John is one of 264 officers killed feloniously in NJ, 40.8% of the 647 remembered there.
John is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
John is one of 17,622 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1911, 1 officer at New Jersey Department of Corrections was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1911, 2 officers in NJ were killed feloniously, the 33rd heaviest of 101 years on record. The heaviest was 2001, with 39.
In 1911, 149 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 27th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1911, 150 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 33rd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
John was 64. Of the 16 killed feloniously at New Jersey Department of Corrections whose age is recorded, half were between 36.5 and 62; the middle age was 54. John had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 14 years.
John was 64. Of the 247 killed feloniously in NJ whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 47; the middle age was 38. John had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 9 years.
John was 64. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. John had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
John was 64. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. John had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
May holds 6.3% of these deaths at New Jersey Department of Corrections; February holds the most, 25%. Wednesdays: 18.8%.
May holds 6.4% of these deaths in NJ; September holds the most, 23.9%. Wednesdays: 14%.
May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.
May holds 8.5% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Wednesdays: 13.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 50% of all 32 deaths at New Jersey Department of Corrections, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 6.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 40.8% of all 647 deaths in NJ, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.5% of these deaths.
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.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
New Jersey Department of Corrections has 32 officers remembered here, John among them.
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James B. Lippincott Mar 2, 1894
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Jacob Grandine Van Houten
Apr 14, 1896
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William H. Hemsing
Aug 17, 1899
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Charles I. Parker Oct 25, 1900
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Joseph W. Martin Nov 13, 1908
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Edward McManus Feb 18, 1909
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John R. Fitzgerald May 10, 1911
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Eli B. Stetser
Sep 21, 1913
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Frederick A. Douglass Mar 11, 1915
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Bruce Linwood Drummond
Mar 20, 1919
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George Harrison May 4, 1924
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Daniel J. Walsh Jul 3, 1924
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Joseph H. Tinney
Feb 4, 1928
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Frank Butcher
Mar 13, 1930
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Joseph Peto Dec 2, 1948
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Victor Viteritto
Feb 28, 1951
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Alonzo Lanphear Apr 10, 1954
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Donald Hiles
Mar 8, 1968
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George Paszkowski
Aug 8, 1969
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Donald Bourne
Feb 28, 1972
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Dean E. Evans Jul 7, 1978
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Frederick W. Baker
Jul 30, 1997
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Michael Price
Apr 19, 2000
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Wayne Robert Clark
Jan 10, 2006
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Nikeelan D. Semmon
Jul 1, 2016
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Nelson Perdomo
Apr 9, 2020
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Maria Gibbs
Apr 22, 2020
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Vincent R. Butler
Dec 28, 2020
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Edward Chavez Jamandron
Jan 15, 2021
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Daniel Richard Krupa
Nov 17, 2021
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Robert F. McCormack
Jan 30, 2022
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Daniel Sincavage
May 19, 2022
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 19-E
Others Who Wore This Badge
31 officers from New Jersey Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
