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Incident
Patrolman Walter Harrigan succumbed to injuries received in an accident while riding on the running board of a vehicle carrying an injured man to the hospital two days earlier. He was attending a Polish-American Citizens League event at Orchard Grove when a citizens suffered a broken leg. Patrolman Harrigan used his police whistle as he rode on the running board of a car taking him to the hospital. He slipped off of the running board and suffered a fractured skull. He was transported to Jersey City Medical Center where he died of his injuries. Patrolman Harrigan had been with the agency for five years.
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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 Harrigan gave the Jersey City Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Jersey City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Harrigan.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Jersey City Police Department has lost 41 officers; 21 of them lost to accidents.
Walter is one of 258 officers lost to accidents in NJ, 39.9% of the 647 remembered there.
Walter is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Walter is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1934, 2 officers at Jersey City Police Department were lost to accidents, the 3rd heaviest of 15 years on record. The heaviest was 1922, with 3.
In 1934, 3 officers in NJ were lost to accidents, the 24th heaviest of 102 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 11.
In 1934, 91 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 12th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1934, 101 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 18th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Walter was 40. Of the 15 lost to accidents at Jersey City Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 26.5 and 38.5; the middle age was 31. Walter had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Walter was 40. Of the 232 lost to accidents in NJ whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 41.3; the middle age was 33.5. Walter had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Walter was 40. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Walter had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Walter was 40. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Walter had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
August holds 14.3% of these deaths at Jersey City Police Department; December holds the most, 19%. Mondays: 9.5%.
August holds 10.1% of these deaths in NJ; March holds the most, 10.5%. Mondays: 17.1%.
August holds 9.5% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Mondays: 13.4%.
August holds 9.3% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Mondays: 13.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 51.2% of all 41 deaths at Jersey City Police Department, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 39.9% of all 647 deaths in NJ, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Jersey City Police Department has 41 officers remembered here, Walter 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 the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 12-W
Others Who Wore This Badge
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