Incident
Detective Melvin Santiago was shot and killed at 4:09 am when he and his partner responded to a robbery call at a 24-hour pharmacy on the corner of Communipaw Avenue and John F. Kennedy Boulevard.
A male subject had entered the store and assaulted a private security guard. He severely beat the guard and stole his service weapon, then waited for responding officers to arrive with the intention to ambush them.
Detective Santiago and his partner had just pulled into the parking lot as the man exited the building and opened fire on them without warning. Detective Santiago was struck in the head before he was able to exit from the patrol car's passenger seat.
Other responding officers returned fire and killed the subject.
Detective Santiago had graduated from the academy only six months prior to the incident.
Survivors
He was survived by his mother and stepfather.
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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Santiago served with the Jersey City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Jersey City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Santiago.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Jersey City Police Department has lost 41 officers; 14 of them killed feloniously.
Melvin is one of 264 officers killed feloniously in NJ, 40.8% of the 647 remembered there.
Melvin is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Melvin 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 2014, 1 officer at Jersey City Police Department was killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 13 years on record. The heaviest was 1923, with 2.
In 2014, 1 officer in NJ was killed feloniously, the 61st heaviest of 101 years on record. The heaviest was 2001, with 39.
In 2014, 63 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 119th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 2014, 66 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 117th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Melvin was 23. Of the 11 killed feloniously at Jersey City Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 47; the middle age was 37. Melvin had served 0.5 years; the middle length of service was 14 years.
Melvin was 23. Of the 247 killed feloniously in NJ whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 47; the middle age was 38. Melvin had served 0.5 years; the middle length of service was 9 years.
Melvin was 23. 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. Melvin had served 0.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Melvin was 23. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Melvin had served 0.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
July holds 21.4% of these deaths at Jersey City Police Department; November holds the most, 21.4%. Sundays: 21.4%.
July holds 10.2% of these deaths in NJ; September holds the most, 23.9%. Sundays: 13.3%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.
July holds 9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 34.1% of all 41 deaths at Jersey City Police Department, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 42.9% 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
Jersey City Police Department has 41 officers remembered here, Melvin among them.
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Thomas Flynn Nov 29, 1879
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Edward O'Brien Dec 18, 1881
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Nicholas Nester Oct 7, 1908
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Dennis J. Sullivan Jun 12, 1910
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Hugh J. Clarke Oct 1, 1913
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Charles Graham Jun 11, 1914
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John Patrick Murphy
Nov 29, 1915
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James F. Doherty
Aug 1, 1916
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Thomas Joseph Cavanagh
Jun 23, 1921
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James Dinley Nov 6, 1921
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Eugene C. Otersen Jan 7, 1922
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William P. Clark Aug 2, 1922
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Charles Henry Ackerman Oct 11, 1922
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James B. Quinlan Apr 7, 1923
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John Black
May 22, 1923
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Clarence Weir
May 22, 1923
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Walter O'Neill
Mar 2, 1929
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John J. Shanahan Mar 2, 1929
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Richard H. Fletcher, Jr.
Apr 21, 1929
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Edward Ruark Dec 12, 1930
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Joseph Francis Sewell
Jul 18, 1932
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James J. Carroll May 27, 1934
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Walter Harrigan Aug 27, 1934
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William Cahill Oct 26, 1946
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William McCaffery Dec 13, 1958
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Stephen Lipka Nov 8, 1965
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Stanley P. Przygocki
Oct 29, 1967
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Casper J. Buonocore, Jr.
Sep 12, 1973
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John J. Bracken
Sep 12, 1973
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Dominick Edward Conticchio
Sep 10, 1974
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William G. McCarthy Jan 14, 1976
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Donald Patrick Carroll
Nov 6, 1986
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Samuel R. Wilson
Jan 4, 1989
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John E. Laughery
Nov 24, 1992
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Domenick J. Infantes, Jr.
Jul 6, 2001
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Shawn Carson
Dec 25, 2005
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Robert Nguyen
Dec 25, 2005
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Marc Anthony DiNardo
Jul 21, 2009
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Melvin Vincent Santiago
Jul 13, 2014
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Christopher Robateau
Jan 5, 2018
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Joseph Alan Seals
Dec 10, 2019
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 13-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
40 officers from Jersey City Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.












