Prev Next

Patrolman

Joseph C. Hagel

Newark Police Division — Newark, NJ

Felonious

End of Watch March 15, 1961

Age 63

Tour of Duty 37 yrs

The Vigil Panel 96 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 57

Incident

Patrolman Hagel was shot and killed during a robbery attempt at a tavern on Summer Avenue. He had gotten off duty and was heading home when he stopped at the tavern to return a borrowed car to a friend. While he was sitting inside three men entered and announced a holdup. Patrolman Hagel drew his weapon and one of the suspects opened fire, striking Officer Hagel in the head and twice in the body. Although mortally wounded, Patrolman Hagel returned fire and wounded the 21-year-old suspect in the arm. He and the other two, 21 and 17, were arrested a short time later. All three were convicted of first degree murder. The 17-year-old was sentenced to life. The other two were sentenced to death but their sentences were later commuted to life. One was paroled in 1980. The gunman was paroled in 1975 but returned to prison three times, once for a parole violation, another time for receiving stolen property, and the third time for a drug conviction. In 1986 he was sent to prison a fourth time for 50 years for drug trafficking. On March 23, 2003, he escaped from a minimum security prison. He would have been released in 2007. Patrolman Hagel had served with the agency for 37 years. He was survived by his wife, three sons, and four daughters. One of his sons is a Newark police officer. Patrolman Hagel was set to retire in less than a year.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, three sons, and four daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: neuraspine_01krbxtpfkabzfr9px793t54jx
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Joseph. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

37 years. You could have gone home.
Patrolman Hagel gave the Newark Police Division 37 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Newark community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Hagel.

— 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 March 15, 1961

Tour of Duty 37 yrs

Age 63

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Joseph is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1961, 69 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 104th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Joseph was 63. 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. Joseph had served 37 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month

By day of the week

How

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.

Every cause

Weapons recorded