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Incident
Patrolman Joseph Sewell suffered a fatal heart attack while booking a prisoner into the Montgomery Street Station after having struggled with the man during an arrest.
The man had been prowling on the third floor of 178 Duncan Avenue and was arrested for disorderly conduct. Patrolman Sewell had taken him to the station and was booking him when he collapsed.
The prisoner attempted to escape as other officers came to Patrolman Sewell's aid.
Patrolman Sewell had served with the Jersey City Police Department for 12 years. He was survived by his wife, son, brother, and two sisters. He was predeceased by another brother who had served on the Jersey City Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, brother, and two sisters.
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.
Patrolman Sewell gave the Jersey City Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Jersey City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Sewell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Cardiac
Jersey City Police Department has lost 41 officers; 4 of them lost to cardiac events.
Joseph is one of 38 officers lost to cardiac events in NJ, 5.9% of the 647 remembered there.
Joseph is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Joseph is one of 1,309 officers lost to cardiac events worldwide, 3.9% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1932, 1 officer in NJ was lost to cardiac events, the 6th heaviest of 32 years on record. The heaviest was 1965, with 3.
In 1932, 5 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, the 89th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
In 1932, 5 officers worldwide were lost to cardiac events, the 89th heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.
Who
Joseph was 48. Of the 35 lost to cardiac events in NJ whose age is recorded, half were between 44 and 56; the middle age was 48. Joseph had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 16.5 years.
Joseph was 48. Of the 1,249 lost to cardiac events in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 55; the middle age was 48. Joseph had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
Joseph was 48. Of the 1,251 lost to cardiac events worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 42.5 and 55; the middle age was 48. Joseph had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.
When
July holds 13.2% of these deaths in NJ, more than any other month. Mondays: 23.7%.
July holds 7.2% of these deaths in the United States; January holds the most, 9.6%. Mondays: 12.9%.
July holds 7.2% of these deaths worldwide; January holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13%.
How
Cardiac deaths account for 9.8% of all 41 deaths at Jersey City Police Department, the 3rd most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 75% of these deaths.
Cardiac deaths account for 5.9% of all 647 deaths in NJ, the 4th most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 23.7% of these deaths.
Cardiac deaths account for 4.7% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 4th most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 16.1% of these deaths.
Cardiac deaths account for 3.9% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 4th most common cause. The weapon recorded was person, in 16% of these deaths.
His people
Jersey City Police Department has 41 officers remembered here, Joseph 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 25-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.
