Incident
Officer Gutekunst was shot and killed while questioning a man who had bumped the vehicle that Officer Gutekunst was driving. The suspect had also been involved in other fender benders immediately prior to striking Officer Gutekunst's car. As Officer Gutekunst attempted to question the man the suspect shot him once in the chest. The suspect fled but was arrested three hours later by his uncle, a Newark detective, in a nearby tavern. The 26-year-old suspect was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 25 to 30 years in prison July 28, 1966. In 1978 he received an additional three years for escape. On November 23, 1983, a few weeks after being paroled, he was charged along with his brother and several other family members with federal narcotics violations. He was sent to prison for several years. Since the 1950s his crime family has flooded our nation with the painkiller oxycontin. Most of his family including him are in either in prison, have recently been released, or have died in prison. Officer Gutekunst had been with the agency for only 3 weeks.
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.
Police Officer Gutekunst served with the Newark Police Division.
Thank you for your service to the Newark community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Gutekunst.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Newark Police Division has lost 58 officers; 28 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 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
John is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1965, 1 officer at Newark Police Division was killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 26 years on record. The heaviest was 1876, with 2.
In 1965, 2 officers in NJ were killed feloniously, the 33rd heaviest of 101 years on record. The heaviest was 2001, with 39.
In 1965, 78 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 89th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1965, 80 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 92nd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
John was 23. Of the 26 killed feloniously at Newark Police Division whose age is recorded, half were between 32.3 and 46; the middle age was 36.5. John had served 0.1 years; the middle length of service was 8.7 years.
John was 23. 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 0.1 years; the middle length of service was 9 years.
John was 23. 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. John had served 0.1 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
John was 23. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. John had served 0.1 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
October holds 10.7% of these deaths at Newark Police Division; March holds the most, 21.4%. Saturdays: 14.3%.
October holds 8.3% of these deaths in NJ; September holds the most, 23.9%. Saturdays: 10.2%.
October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.
October holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Saturdays: 16.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 48.3% of all 58 deaths at Newark Police Division, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 35.7% 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 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
Newark Police Division has 58 officers remembered here, John among them.
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Maxwell Badgley Oct 23, 1854
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Benjamin Ellsden Jul 13, 1876
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Stanley J. Brock Aug 8, 1876
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Thomas Lyons Apr 14, 1885
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John Sebold
Mar 9, 1886
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John J. McGovern
Oct 13, 1912
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John J. Gaffney
Dec 7, 1912
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James P. Parkinson Apr 19, 1914
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William H. Hopkins
Jun 21, 1917
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Thomas S. Adubato
Aug 17, 1918
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Patrick J. Ryan
Jul 16, 1919
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Thomas J. Downey
Jan 4, 1922
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Cedric J. Peterson
May 22, 1922
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Edward Bonnet
Aug 29, 1923
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John Laubenstein Feb 20, 1924
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John T. Plunkett Dec 12, 1924
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Joseph Nichols
Oct 31, 1925
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William A. Frederick
Dec 14, 1927
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Alfred Thiele Feb 6, 1929
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Charles A. Robbins
Mar 18, 1929
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Robert W. Anderson
Mar 5, 1930
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Albert Houston
Sep 16, 1932
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Edward Dehmer, Sr.
Dec 1, 1933
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Charles J. Gerstner, Jr. Nov 30, 1934
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Albert E. Seltzer
Oct 9, 1935
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Joseph J. Baumann
Sep 18, 1942
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Theodore Laux
Feb 4, 1950
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John F. Galler
Nov 28, 1950
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Jack Woomer
Jul 10, 1957
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Howard K. Downes
Feb 10, 1958
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Joseph C. Hagel
Mar 15, 1961
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Francis J. Shannon
Mar 29, 1963
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John C. Gutekunst
Oct 16, 1965
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Walter A. Debold
Dec 12, 1965
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Frederick W. Toto
Jul 14, 1967
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Robert M. LaMotta
Oct 27, 1967
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Leslie Haskins, Jr.
Mar 13, 1970
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Frank C. Irvin
Mar 29, 1973
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Richard P. Burns, Sr.
Feb 23, 1975
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John William Snow
Aug 13, 1976
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Arthur L. Williams
Mar 1, 1978
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John F. Gottfried
Nov 28, 1980
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John Walter Sczyrek Jr.
Jun 3, 1993
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Dewey Joe Sherbo, III
Nov 9, 1997
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Melvin Lisojo
Jun 24, 2003
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Dwayne Anthony Reeves
Jul 18, 2005
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Tommaso Popolizio
Mar 3, 2007
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Michael Morgan, Jr.
Nov 7, 2011
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Reinaldo Arocha, Jr.
Sep 16, 2014
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Tolbert A. Furr
Apr 3, 2020
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Michael Alexander Conners
Apr 30, 2020
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Michael W. Clegg
May 10, 2020
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Irving Gene Callender, III
Aug 22, 2020
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Marcus Thomas
Sep 28, 2020
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Hector Moya
Jan 13, 2021
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Brian K. McAdams, Sr.
Jan 22, 2021
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Richard Weber
May 1, 2023
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Joseph Anthony Azcona
Mar 8, 2025
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 36-W
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